939.62 Annotation
Section 973.13 commands that all sentences in excess of that authorized by law be declared void, including the repeater portion of a sentence. Prior postconviction motions that failed to challenge the validity of the sentence do not bar seeking relief from faulty repeater sentences. State v. Flowers,
221 Wis. 2d 20,
586 N.W.2d 175 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-3682.
939.62 Annotation
When the state charged the defendant as a repeater under subs. (1) (c) and (2), then charged the defendant as a repeater under sub. (2m) in the information, it abandoned the earlier charges and could not resurrect them when the latter charge proved to be invalid. State v. Thoms,
228 Wis. 2d 868,
599 N.W.2d 84 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-3260.
939.62 Annotation
Confinement time spent on various parole holds qualifies as actual confinement serving a criminal sentence thereby extending the 5-year period under sub. (2). State v. Price,
231 Wis. 2d 229,
604 N.W.2d 898 (Ct. App. 1999),
99-0746.
939.62 Annotation
A circuit court may not determine the validity of a prior conviction during an enhanced sentencing proceeding predicated on the prior conviction unless the offender alleges that a violation of the right to a lawyer occurred in the prior conviction. The offender may use whatever means are available to challenge the other conviction in another forum, and if successful, seek to reopen the enhanced sentence. State v. Hahn,
2000 WI 118,
238 Wis. 2d 889,
618 N.W.2d 528,
99-0554.
939.62 Annotation
When two penalty enhancers are applicable to the same crime, the length of the second penalty enhancer is based on the maximum term for the base crime as extended by the first penalty enhancer. State v. Quiroz,
2002 WI App 52,
251 Wis. 2d 245,
641 N.W.2d 715,
01-1549.
939.62 Annotation
For purposes of applying this section, the definition of “crime" in s. 939.12 as “conduct which is prohibited by state law and punishable by fine or imprisonment or both" is applicable to statutes outside of chs. 939 to 948 and 951. State v. Sveum,
2002 WI App 105,
254 Wis. 2d 868,
648 N.W.2d 496,
01-0230.
939.62 Annotation
An uncertified copy of a prior judgment of conviction may be used to prove a convicted defendant's status as a habitual criminal. The rules of evidence do not apply to documents offered during a circuit court's presentence determination of whether a qualifying prior conviction exists. The state has the burden of proof and must offer proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the conviction. State v. Saunders,
2002 WI 107,
255 Wis. 2d 589,
649 N.W.2d 263,
01-0271.
939.62 Annotation
A defendant's admission that an out-of-state crime is a serious felony does not relieve a court of its obligation to make an independent determination on that issue. The trial court's failure to make that finding did not prevent the appellate court from making it. State v. Collins,
2002 WI App 177,
256 Wis. 2d 697,
649 N.W.2d 325,
01-2185.
939.62 Annotation
A defendant convicted of a second or subsequent OWI is subject to the penalty enhancements provided for in both ss. 346.65 (2) and 939.62, if the application of each enhancer is based on a separate and distinct prior conviction or convictions. State v. Delaney,
2003 WI 9,
259 Wis. 2d 77,
658 N.W.2d 416,
01-1051.
939.62 Annotation
In determining whether a prior offense was a serious child sex offense under sub. (2m), a court may apply an elements only test but may also conduct a comparable analysis by considering whether the defendant's conduct under the statute governing the prior conviction would constitute a felony under the current statute. State v. Wield,
2003 WI App 179,
266 Wis. 2d 872,
668 N.W.2d 823,
02-2242.
939.62 Annotation
For purposes of computation of the 5-year period under sub. (2), time spent in the least restrictive phase of the intensive sanctions program is time spent in actual confinement serving a criminal sentence that is excluded. The intensive sanctions program operates as a correctional institution, is deemed a confinement classification, and is more restrictive than ordinary probation or parole supervision or extended supervision. State v. Pfeil,
2007 WI App 241,
306 Wis. 2d 237,
742 N.W.2d 573,
06-2771.
939.62 Annotation
A trial court judge, rather than a jury, is allowed to determine the applicability of a defendant's prior conviction for sentence enhancement purposes when the necessary information concerning the prior conviction can be readily determined from an existing judicial record. State v. LaCount,
2008 WI 59,
310 Wis. 2d 85,
750 N.W.2d 780,
06-0672.
939.62 Annotation
The application of the persistent repeater statute requires a particular sequence of convictions: 1) the conviction date for the first offense must have preceded the violation date for the second offense, and 2) the conviction date for the second offense must have preceded the violation date for the current Wisconsin offense. State v. Long,
2009 WI 36,
317 Wis. 2d 92,
765 N.W.2d 557,
07-2307.
939.62 Annotation
A defendant may collaterally attack a prior conviction in an enhanced sentence proceeding on the ground that he or she was denied the constitutional right to counsel in the earlier case. The U. S. Supreme Court recognized that the information a defendant must possess to execute a valid waiver of counsel depends on a range of case-specific factors, including the defendant's education or sophistication. The Supreme Court's reference to a defendant's “education or sophistication" suggests that a court may take the defendant's cognitive limitations into account when determining the validity of his or her waiver. State v. Bohlinger,
2013 WI App 39,
346 Wis. 2d 549,
828 N.W.2d 900,
12-1060.
939.62 Annotation
Sub. (3) (a) has no bearing upon the last sentence of sub. (2), which does not use the word “felony” or “misdemeanor” at all, but is concerned only with “time” a defendant “spent in confinement” on a “criminal sentence,” without any regard to the type of offense underlying that time. Nothing in these provision suggests that time a defendant spent in actual confinement on a criminal sentence under sub. (2) does not include time related to a motor vehicle offense conviction. State v. Cooper,
2016 WI App 63,
371 Wis. 2d 539,
885 N.W.2d 390,
15-1160.
939.621
939.621
Increased penalty for certain domestic abuse offenses. 939.621(1)(1)
In this section, “domestic abuse repeater" means either of the following:
939.621(1)(a)
(a) A person who commits, during the 72 hours immediately following an arrest for a domestic abuse incident as set forth in s.
968.075 (5), an act of domestic abuse, as defined in s.
968.075 (1) (a) that constitutes the commission of a crime. For the purpose of the definition under this paragraph, the 72-hour period applies whether or not there has been a waiver by the victim under s.
968.075 (5) (c).
939.621(1)(b)
(b) A person who, during the 10-year period immediately prior to the commission of the crime for which the person is presently being sentenced if the convictions remain of record and unreversed, was convicted on 2 or more separate occasions of a felony or a misdemeanor for which a court imposed a domestic abuse surcharge under s.
973.055 (1), a felony or a misdemeanor for which a court waived a domestic abuse surcharge pursuant to s.
973.055 (4), or a felony or a misdemeanor that was committed in another state but that, had it been committed in this state, would have subjected the person to a domestic abuse surcharge under s.
973.055 (1) or that is a crime of domestic abuse under the laws of that state. For the purpose of the definition under this paragraph, it is immaterial that sentence was stayed, withheld or suspended, or that the person was pardoned, unless such pardon was granted on the ground of innocence. In computing the preceding 10-year period, time that the person spent in actual confinement serving a criminal sentence shall be excluded.
939.621(2)
(2) If a person commits an act of domestic abuse, as defined in s.
968.075 (1) (a) and the act constitutes the commission of a crime, the maximum term of imprisonment for that crime may be increased by not more than 2 years if the person is a domestic abuse repeater. The victim of the domestic abuse crime does not have to be the same as the victim of the domestic abuse incident that resulted in the prior arrest or conviction. The penalty increase under this section changes the status of a misdemeanor to a felony.
939.621 Annotation
When two penalty enhancers are applicable to the same crime, the length of the second penalty enhancer is based on the maximum term for the base crime as extended by the first penalty enhancer. State v. Quiroz,
2002 WI App 52,
251 Wis. 2d 245,
641 N.W.2d 715,
01-1549.
939.621 Annotation
The proof requirements of s. 973.12 (1) apply to domestic abuse repeater allegations. For the domestic abuse repeater enhancer under sub. (1) (b) to apply, the state had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, or the defendant had to personally admit, that the defendant was convicted on 2 separate occasions within the 10-year period immediately prior to the commission of the disorderly conduct of an offense for which a court either imposed a domestic abuse surcharge under s. 973.055 (1) or waived a domestic abuse surcharge under s. 973.055 (4). State v. Hill,
2016 WI App 29,
368 Wis. 2d 243,
878 N.W.2d 709,
15-0374.
939.621 Annotation
Although Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) records do not constitute prima facie proof of prior convictions for purposes of s. 973.12 (1), nothing prevents the court from relying on those records to determine whether the defendant understood the domestic abuse repeater allegation in the charging documents and therefore admitted, by virtue of the defendant's no contest plea, that the defendant qualified as a domestic abuse repeater. State v. Hill,
2016 WI App 29,
368 Wis. 2d 243,
878 N.W.2d 709,
15-0374.
939.63
939.63
Penalties; use of a dangerous weapon. 939.63(1)(1)
If a person commits a crime while possessing, using or threatening to use a dangerous weapon, the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by law for that crime may be increased as follows:
939.63(1)(a)
(a) The maximum term of imprisonment for a misdemeanor may be increased by not more than 6 months.
939.63(1)(b)
(b) If the maximum term of imprisonment for a felony is more than 5 years or is a life term, the maximum term of imprisonment for the felony may be increased by not more than 5 years.
939.63(1)(c)
(c) If the maximum term of imprisonment for a felony is more than 2 years, but not more than 5 years, the maximum term of imprisonment for the felony may be increased by not more than 4 years.
939.63(1)(d)
(d) The maximum term of imprisonment for a felony not specified in par.
(b) or
(c) may be increased by not more than 3 years.
939.63(2)
(2) The increased penalty provided in this section does not apply if possessing, using or threatening to use a dangerous weapon is an essential element of the crime charged.
939.63(3)
(3) This section applies only to crimes specified under chs.
939 to
951 and
961.
939.63 Annotation
The fact that the maximum term for a misdemeanor may exceed one year under sub. (1) (a) does not upgrade the crime to felony status. State v. Denter,
121 Wis. 2d 118,
357 N.W.2d 555 (1984).
939.63 Annotation
Possession encompasses both actual and constructive possession. To prove a violation of this section, the state must prove that the defendant possessed the weapon to facilitate the predicate offense. State v. Peete,
185 Wis. 2d 255,
517 N.W.2d 149 (1994). See also State v. Howard,
211 Wis. 2d 269,
564 N.W.2d 753 (1997),
95-0770.
939.63 Annotation
An automobile may constitute a dangerous weapon under s. 939.22 (10). State v. Bidwell,
200 Wis. 2d 200,
546 N.W.2d 507 (Ct. App. 1996).
939.63 Annotation
Under
Peete, there is sufficient evidence of possession if the evidence allows a reasonable jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant possessed a dangerous weapon in order to use it or threaten to use it, even if the defendant did not use or threaten to use it in the commission of the crime. State v. Page,
2000 WI App 267,
240 Wis. 2d 276,
622 N.W.2d 285,
99-2015.
939.63 Annotation
When two penalty enhancers are applicable to the same crime, the length of the second penalty enhancer is based on the maximum term for the base crime as extended by the first penalty enhancer. State v. Quiroz,
2002 WI App 52,
251 Wis. 2d 245,
641 N.W.2d 715,
01-1549.
939.632
939.632
Penalties; violent crime in a school zone. 939.632(1)(a)
(a) “School" means a public school, parochial or private school, or tribal school, as defined in s.
115.001 (15m), that provides an educational program for one or more grades between grades 1 and 12 and that is commonly known as an elementary school, middle school, junior high school, senior high school, or high school.
939.632(1)(c)
(c) “School premises" means any school building, grounds, recreation area or athletic field or any other property owned, used or operated for school administration.
939.632(1)(d)3.
3. On a school bus or public transportation transporting students to and from a public or private school or to and from a tribal school, as defined in s.
115.001 (15m).
939.632(1)(d)3m.
3m. At school bus stops where students are waiting for a school bus or are being dropped off by a school bus.
939.632(1)(e)1.
1. Any felony under s.
940.01,
940.02,
940.03,
940.05,
940.09 (1c),
940.19 (2),
(4) or
(5),
940.21,
940.225 (1),
(2) or
(3),
940.235,
940.305,
940.31,
941.20,
941.21,
943.02,
943.06,
943.10 (2),
943.23 (1g),
943.32 (2),
948.02 (1) or
(2),
948.025,
948.03 (2) (a) or
(c) or
(5) (a) 1.,
2.,
3., or
4.,
948.05,
948.051,
948.055,
948.07,
948.08,
948.085, or
948.30 (2) or under s.
940.302 (2) if s.
940.302 (2) (a) 1. b. applies.
939.632(2)
(2) If a person commits a violent crime in a school zone, the maximum term of imprisonment is increased as follows:
939.632(2)(a)
(a) If the violent crime is a felony, the maximum term of imprisonment is increased by 5 years.
939.632(2)(b)
(b) If the violent crime is a misdemeanor, the maximum term of imprisonment is increased by 3 months and the place of imprisonment is the county jail.
939.632(3)(a)(a) In addition to any other penalties that may apply to the crime under sub.
(2), the court may require the person to complete 100 hours of community service work for a public agency or a nonprofit charitable organization. The court shall ensure that the defendant is provided a written statement of the terms of the community service order. Any organization or agency acting in good faith to which a defendant is assigned under an order under this paragraph has immunity from any civil liability in excess of $25,000 for acts or omissions by or impacting on the defendant.
939.632(3)(b)
(b) The court shall not impose the requirement under par.
(a) if the court determines that the person would pose a threat to public safety while completing the requirement.
939.632(4)
(4) This section provides for the enhancement of the penalties applicable for the underlying crime. The court shall direct that the trier of fact find a special verdict as to all of the issues specified in sub.
(2).
939.632 Annotation
The violent crime in a school zone penalty enhancer is not unconstitutional as applied to the defendant. The legislature seeks to deter violent crime near schools in an effort to create a safety zone around schools. The 1,000-foot perimeter is a reasonable distance to try to accomplish this legislative goal. State v. Quintana,
2007 WI App 29,
299 Wis. 2d 234,
729 N.W.2d 776,
06-0499.
939.635
939.635
Increased penalty for certain crimes against children committed by a child care provider. If a person commits a violation of s.
948.02,
948.025, or
948.03 (2),
(3), or
(5) (a) 1.,
2.,
3., or
4. against a child for whom the person was providing child care for compensation, the maximum term of imprisonment for that crime may be increased by not more than 5 years.
939.635 History
History: 2011 a. 82;
2015 a. 366.
939.645
939.645
Penalty; crimes committed against certain people or property. 939.645(1)(1)
If a person does all of the following, the penalties for the underlying crime are increased as provided in sub.
(2):
939.645(1)(b)
(b) Intentionally selects the person against whom the crime under par.
(a) is committed or selects the property that is damaged or otherwise affected by the crime under par.
(a) in whole or in part because of the actor's belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry of that person or the owner or occupant of that property, whether or not the actor's belief or perception was correct.
939.645(2)(a)(a) If the crime committed under sub.
(1) is ordinarily a misdemeanor other than a Class A misdemeanor, the revised maximum fine is $10,000 and the revised maximum term of imprisonment is one year in the county jail.
939.645(2)(b)
(b) If the crime committed under sub.
(1) is ordinarily a Class A misdemeanor, the penalty increase under this section changes the status of the crime to a felony and the revised maximum fine is $10,000 and the revised maximum term of imprisonment is 2 years.
939.645(2)(c)
(c) If the crime committed under sub.
(1) is a felony, the maximum fine prescribed by law for the crime may be increased by not more than $5,000 and the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by law for the crime may be increased by not more than 5 years.
939.645(3)
(3) This section provides for the enhancement of the penalties applicable for the underlying crime. The court shall direct that the trier of fact find a special verdict as to all of the issues specified in sub.
(1).
939.645(4)
(4) This section does not apply to any crime if proof of race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry or proof of any person's perception or belief regarding another's race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry is required for a conviction for that crime.
939.645 Annotation
When two penalty enhancers are applicable to the same crime, the length of the second penalty enhancer is based on the maximum term for the base crime as extended by the first penalty enhancer. State v. Quiroz,
2002 WI App 52,
251 Wis. 2d 245,
641 N.W.2d 715,
01-1549.
939.645 Annotation
Hate Crimes: New Limits on the Scope of the 1st Amendment. Resler. 77 MLR 415 (1993).
939.645 Annotation
Put to the Proof: Evidentiary Considerations in Wisconsin Hate Crime Prosecutions. Read. 89 MLR 453 (2005).
939.645 Annotation
Talking about Hate Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis of American and Canadian Regulation of Hate Speech. Moran. 1994 WLR 1425.
939.645 Annotation
Hate Crimes. Kassel. Wis. Law. Oct. 1992.
RIGHTS OF THE PROSECUTION
939.65
939.65
Prosecution under more than one section permitted. Except as provided in s.
948.025 (3), if an act forms the basis for a crime punishable under more than one statutory provision, prosecution may proceed under any or all such provisions.
939.65 History
History: 1993 a. 227.
939.65 Annotation
Due process does not require that a person know with certainty which crime, among several, the person is committing, at least until the prosecution exercises its charging discretion. Harris v. State,
78 Wis. 2d 357,
254 N.W.2d 291 (1977).
