As the holiday shopping season becomes busier and busier, many store owners become concerned about the losses they may suffer because of shoplifting. Because of this, retailers and police officers are likely to take strong action against anyone who is accused of committing retail theft. Those who may be facing these types of accusations will want to be sure to understand the nature of these crimes and the potential penalties they may face if they are convicted on criminal charges.

Wisconsin Retail Theft Laws

Retail theft may involve many different types of activities. While shoplifting is generally thought of as pocketing merchandise and taking it out of a store without paying for it, a person may also face criminal charges if they conceal items from a store’s owner or transfer items to someone else with the intent of stealing them. Retail theft charges will also apply if a person changes a price tag or alters the price of an item, such as by scanning the barcode of a different item at a self-checkout. A person may also be charged with retail theft if they remove a theft-detection sensor from merchandise or use a device that is meant to remove these sensors or shield them from scanners.

As with other types of theft charges, the severity of the consequences a person may face will depend on the values of the items that were allegedly stolen. For merchandise valued at $500 or less, Class A misdemeanor charges will apply, and a person may be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to up to nine months in prison. For retail theft of between $500 and $5,000, or in cases where more than one person worked together to steal items worth less than $500 and sell them online, a person may be charged with a Class I felony, and they may be sentenced to up to three years and six months in jail, as well as a maximum $10,000 fine. Theft of merchandise worth $5,000 to $10,000 will result in Class H felony charges, which can lead to a prison sentence of up to six years and a fine of up to $10,000. Retail theft involving items worth more than $10,000 is a Class G felony, which can lead to a maximum $25,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail.

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Drunk or intoxicated driving is taken very seriously by law enforcement officials. A person who is arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) can face serious consequences, including the requirement to pay fines and court costs, as well as the loss of their driver’s license for a significant period of time. In some cases, a person may also be sentenced to time in prison. There are certain circumstances where OWI may be charged as a felony, and a person will face even more serious penalties. An experienced attorney can help determine the best defense strategy in felony OWI cases.

Felony Drunk Driving Charges

In Wisconsin, a first-time OWI is a civil infraction rather than a criminal charge, and a second or third OWI is a misdemeanor, although a third OWI may be charged as a felony if a minor under the age of 16 was in the vehicle. Any subsequent OWI will be charged as a felony. A fourth OWI is a Class H felony, and a conviction can result in a prison sentence of 60 days to six years, as well as a fine of $600 to $10,000. A fifth or sixth OWI is a Class G felony, and a person who is convicted may be sentenced to between one and 10 years in prison and fined between $600 and $25,000. A seventh, eighth, or ninth OWI is a Class F felony that can result in a sentence between three and 12.5 years and a fine of up to $25,000. A tenth or subsequent OWI is a Class E felony, and a person may receive a sentence of four to 15 years and be fined up to $50,000.

Felony OWI charges may also apply in cases where a person was involved in an accident that resulted in injuries to others. While a first offense of causing injury while OWI will be charged as a misdemeanor, a person may be charged with a Class H felony if they had previously been convicted of OWI or had refused a chemical blood alcohol test after being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. If a person caused great bodily harm to someone else, meaning that the victim suffered an injury that put them at significant risk of death, caused disfigurement, or resulted in the loss of a body part or organ, Class F felony charges will apply. An OWI that results in a person’s death may be charged as a Class D felony, which can result in a prison sentence of up to 25 years and a fine of up to $100,000. If a person had a previous OWI conviction or chemical test refusal, a charge of homicide while OWI is a Class C felony, and a person may be sentenced to up to 40 years in jail.

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Of the different types of criminal charges that a person may face, violent crimes are among the most serious. Because these offenses involve serious harm to an alleged victim, an alleged offender may be required to pay a high amount of bail following an arrest, and they may be subject to restrictions regarding the places they can go and the types of activities they can engage in. If a person is convicted, they are likely to be sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence, as well as additional restrictions upon their release. By understanding the types of violent crimes that are most commonly charged in Wisconsin and working with an experienced attorney, people facing these types of charges can determine their best options for defense.

Wisconsin Violent Crimes in 2020

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, the rate of violent crimes in Wisconsin increased by 8.85 percent in 2020. According to reports submitted by law enforcement agencies in the state, the following types of offenses were charged most often:

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A sex crime conviction can have many different types of consequences that will affect a person’s life. In addition to criminal consequences such as a lengthy prison sentence, large fines, or periods of probation, a person must usually register as a sex offender. When a person is on the sex offender registry, they will need to meet a number of ongoing requirements, and they will face restrictions on where they can live and the places they can visit. Those who are facing sex crime charges can secure representation from a criminal defense attorney who can advise them of their options for defense and make sure they understand the potential consequences of a conviction.

Reporting Requirements for Sex Offenders

The sex offender registry will maintain information about a person who has been convicted of a sex crime, including identifying information such as their name, gender, date of birth, height, weight, hair color, and eye color, as well as details about the laws they violated, when they were discharged from prison or placed on probation or parole, and when their sentence will be completed.

A sex offender will be required to provide annual updates to the sex offender registry or any time when certain details have changed. These details include the addresses of any residences where the person will be living and the name and address of any employers or schools they will be attending. A person will also be required to report all email addresses, social media profiles, or other online accounts they use and any websites they create or maintain.

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Drivers are required to follow a multitude of traffic laws, and these laws are meant to ensure that people act safely while behind the wheel and protect others from harm. There are many different types of traffic violations that may cause a police officer to pull a driver over and issue a traffic ticket. Distracted driving is an offense that is commonly committed by drivers, and those who have been charged with this type of violation will need to understand the specific laws that apply to them and the possible penalties that they may face.

Wisconsin Laws Addressing Inattentive Driving

Distracted driving can take many forms. In Wisconsin, drivers are prohibited from engaging in any activities that interfere with their ability to operate a vehicle safely. These activities may include anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, such as eating food, drinking beverages, engaging in conversations with passengers, turning around to attend to children, reaching for objects in the vehicle, or adjusting a car’s radio, environmental controls, or the position of a seat.

While the distracted driving laws may apply for multiple types of distractions, they specifically address the use of cell phones or other electronic devices. Drivers are prohibited from texting while driving, which includes using a phone or another device to write or send text messages or emails. While drivers are allowed to make phone calls while driving, they cannot hold a phone or an accessory connected to a phone in their hands, and they can only make or answer calls by pressing a single button.

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