Category: Violent Crimes

What are Wisconsin’s knife laws in 2023?  Our criminal defense lawyers explain: Wisconsin’s knife laws might seem confusing.  Are butterfly knives legal? What about switchblades?  Does the length of the blade matter, and where do I start measuring it?  Finally, can I possess a concealed knife? Over the last decade, new laws have slightly complicated…

What is road rage? Aggressive driving takes many forms.  Tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, and speeding are all certainly forms of aggressive driving.  An unfortunately it happens a lot.  A AAA survey found that nearly 80% of drivers expressed significant anger or aggression while behind the wheel at least once over the course…

What is a switchblade? A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle.  The operator of the weapon deploys the blade when he pushes a button or slide.  People frequently refer to switchblades as automatic knives.  Along with the push of the button, the blade moves out…

Third degree sexual assault Third degree sexual assault is a felony charge in Wisconsin.  It’s one step more serious than fourth degree, but certainly includes some concerning behavior.  Additionally, the charge is a Class G felony.  That means it’s punishable by up to 10 years in prison, $25,000.00 in fines, or both. Section 940.225(3) of…

What’s an animal? Believe it or not, the statute specifies what constitutes an “animal.”  Animals include every living warm-blooded creature, reptiles, and amphibians.  The statute excludes humans from this definition.  The statute also explains that Chapter 951 does not controvert any law regulating wild animals under Chapter 169.  It also does not apply to the…

Swatting happens in Wisconsin. In July 2019 police responded to a Madison condo for a swatting call.  Law enforcement was advised that a woman had barricaded herself inside the condo with a gun.  The caller claimed to be the mother of the swatting victim.  Thankfully, police de-escalated the situation when the actual condo-owner arrived home. …

How close are Wisconsinites to carrying without a permit? A new bill passed the Wisconsin State Senate Judiciary Committee on 3-2 party line vote earlier this month. That approval cleared the way for the full Senate to consider the bill sometime next month. The bill would allow individuals to lawfully carry a concealed firearm without…

Witness intimidation growing issue in Milwaukee If you read the news in Milwaukee, you’ve seen the countless stories over the past few years regarding the growing problem of witness intimidation.  Those stories have focused mainly on defendants who have tried to kill witnesses in their cases.  And although killing a witness is a rare event,…

Carjacking penalties may increase in Wisconsin A bill proposed in the Wisconsin Senate looks to increase penalties for carjacking in Wisconsin.  Legislators said they proposed the bill because of the increased rate and brazenness of carjackings in Milwaukee.  This post will explore the current law and look at how the new law would increase the…

A new law signed into effect by Governor Scott Walker on March 30 might soon get put to use.  The law, which essentially expands the breadth of the current bomb scares law, is titled “Terrorist Threats” and is codified in § 947.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  The statute states that whoever threatens to cause death…