I am a Hudson, River Falls, and New Richmond Wisconsin criminal defense attorney.
I will aggressively defend your rights. Just because you have been arrested, does not mean you are guilty. I have successfully defended people throughout Wisconsin on charges ranging from homicide to disorderly conduct. I am the attorney to defend you.
I defend individuals charged with committing crimes and traffic offenses, including drunk driving. Being arrested can be a scary and frustrating experience. I am here to assist you from the moment you are arrested through the complete resolution of your case. Your constitutional rights must be upheld and defended.
The cases on which I defend individuals include:
- Property crimes
- Violent crimes
- Drug crimes
- Misdemeanors
- Felonies
- Drunk Driving/OWI
- Traffic offenses
- Ordinance violations
- Expungement
- Probation Revocations
- Appeals
Going through the criminal process may present a lot of questions for you. I hope to answer some here, but also call or email me (LINK) to set up an appointment to ensure I am able to protect your rights as much as possible.
- What happens in court?
- What happens if the police did not read me my Miranda Rights?
- What does it mean to be “on bond?”
- What is a signature bond?
- What is a felony?
- What is a misdemeanor?
- How much will an attorney cost?
Initial Appearance
An initial court appearance date is listed on your citation. This hearing starts your case in court. If you wish to contest the charge or negotiate with the prosecutor regarding your charges, you must plead not guilty at that court date.
Pretrial and/or Status Conferences
You may have multiple Status Conferences and Pretrial Conferences throughout your case to keep the court informed of the status of your case.
Motion Hearingss
A motion hearing may be held to litigate any legal issues in your case. Motions are filed to request information from the prosecution or to challenge the legality of the police officers’ or prosecutor’s actions against you. The motions may request that evidence be suppressed or charges be dismissed based on a violation of your constitutional rights.
Trial
If you do not reach an agreement with the prosecutor and the judge does not dismiss your case at a motion hearing, your case will proceed to a trial. Most trials for drunk driving cases are jury trials.
Sentencing
The sentencing hearing will be where the judge imposes your penalties. At the sentencing hearing, the judge will consider your position (as presented by your attorney) and the State’s/Prosecutor’s position for your sentence.
Appeal
If you are not satisfied with the jury’s or judge’s verdict at trial, a judge’s decision at a motion hearing or the legality of your sentence, you can appeal your case to the Court of Appeals within a specified time limit.
What happens if the police did not read me my Miranda Rights?
Miranda warnings are not required simply because you are arrested. Miranda warnings are required when a police officer subjects an individual to a custodial interrogation. Miranda warnings generally only protect statements you give to the police and any evidence the police get as the result of those statements. You and I will discuss whether Miranda warnings were given and if not, whether that has any effect on the statements or evidence in your case.
What does it mean to be “on bond?”
Bond is the condition(s) imposed by the judge on a defendant while the case is pending. Conditions of bond can be non-monetary such as absolute sobriety and/or not being present in a bar or restaurant where the primary purpose is to serve alcohol. A cash or money component of bond may be set or the court may impose a signature bond.
What is a signature bond?
A signature bond is a written assurance that a defendant will appear at all future court dates and not violate any bond conditions. Failure to abide by the terms of a signature bond may result in a monetary penalty for non-compliance or further criminal penalties such as bail jumping.
What is a felony?
A felony is a serious crime punishable by a fine and/or jail for over one year or prison.
What is a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor is a crime less serious than a felony, punishable by a fine and/or jail time up to one year.
How much will an attorney cost?
I handle criminal cases on a flat fee basis. The amount of the fee will depend on whether this is a misdemeanor or felony and the specific facts of your case. We will discuss all potential costs associated with your case at the first meeting.