Because of the number of serious and fatal car crashes that occur when people drive drunk, Wisconsin takes cases of operating while intoxicated (OWI) very seriously. The penalties imposed by the state can be very harsh and with this one mistake, you may jeopardize your future in numerous ways.

Getting an OWI with a minor in the car leads to even more serious consequences (although it is important to note that, for OWI purposes, a minor is someone under 16, not 18, years old). If you are facing charges of an OWI with a child in your vehicle, get help right away from a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney.

Will I Go to Jail for Getting an OWI with a Minor in the Car?

This depends on a number of factors; while most first-time OWI convictions are civil cases, having a minor in your vehicle can be charged as a criminal offense. You could receive up to six months in jail, a long-term license revocation (up to three years), expensive fines, and a requirement to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your vehicle if and when your driver’s license is reinstated. If this is not your first-time OWI, you face serious felony charges, including up to $50,000 in fines, up to 15 years in prison, and a driver’s license revocation that lasts for years after your prison sentence ends or which may even be permanent. With a minor in the car, fines increase to $100,000 and up to 30 years in jail is possible.

Often seen as the worst crime a person can commit, homicide, or murder, brings serious legal consequences. People accused of homicide often fear that they have no option but to take a plea deal or plead guilty even without a plea deal, simply because the odds seem so stacked against them. Prosecutors are all too eager to put someone behind bars for murder, and they often overlook whether the evidence justifies punishing someone - especially if they are targeting the wrong suspect.

If you are being investigated for or have been charged with homicide of any kind in Wisconsin, there are legitimate defenses against charges of homicide, whether you are the one who committed the crime or not. You deserve the best criminal defense from an attorney with a proven success rate and a commitment to your rights. Read on to learn more about potential defenses against homicide charges and then contact Bucher Law Group, LLC right away.

Possible Defenses Against Homicide Charges in Wisconsin

Your criminal defense attorney will work hard to look at the facts of your case and determine what the most effective defense could be. While there are many possible defenses, some of the most common include:

With most crimes, a convicted individual goes to jail, pays his fees, completes community service, and then, having paid his debt, is able to move on with his life. Sex crimes are different. Despite having already served time and made amends for wrongdoings, people accused of sex crimes are placed on a sex offender registry that essentially exposes them to lifetime consequences for acts that may have happened many years past.

If you have been accused of a sex crime or any crime that was sexually motivated, you may face conviction and a lifetime registry on the Wisconsin sex offender’s list. Taking the charges against you seriously is essential for putting together an effective defense strategy. Read through this list to discover whether you are at risk of permanent sex offender registration and then contact a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney right away.

Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender in Wisconsin?

Certain crimes always require registration on the sex offender’s list, but others - such as battery, stalking, false imprisonment, criminal trespassing, or solicitation, just to name a few - may also require registration if the motivation is determined to have been sexual in nature.

People get traffic tickets all the time, and usually, they just pay them without thinking carefully about how the consequences of a ticket on their record could affect them in the future. But if this happens to you, it is often worth your while to think twice before simply paying the ticket; first, because you might be surprised by how easy it is to fight and beat a traffic violation; and second, because the consequences of a violation on your record may be more serious than you think. If you have been charged with a traffic violation, talk to a Wisconsin traffic violation attorney before using your hard-earned money to pay that ticket. Here are four good reasons why you should contest a traffic violation.

You May Be Able to Get a Better Deal

Depending on the seriousness of the charges against you, you may want to explore options like pleading to a lesser offense. For example, reckless driving is not set at a certain speed in Wisconsin; rather, if an officer subjectively believes you were driving dangerously given the conditions, you could face serious fees and even prison time. Contesting a ticket may allow you to plead to a lesser offense or get the charges dropped altogether.

Discover a Lack of Evidence

If you dispute a traffic violation in court, the police officer who gave you the ticket needs to appear and prove that you are guilty of the charges against you. However, the officer may not be able to prove that any evidence existed; furthermore, the officer may not even appear in the initial court hearing, which may give you the chance to speak with a prosecutor and get a deal or dismissal.

Many people who are accused of crimes wonder whether they can represent themselves in court. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of the ability to pay for a criminal defense attorney, a lack of trust in the public defenders, or a desire to rely on one’s own independence and understanding of the law. While any of these options may be tempting, ultimately representing yourself in a criminal case is a seriously risky endeavor. If you are considering being your own defense attorney, read this before you make the decision to represent yourself and go to court, potentially negatively impacting your life for many years.

Am I Qualified to Represent Myself in Criminal Court?

The Constitution of the United States of America protects every American citizen’s right to represent themselves in court. However, the Constitution recognizes that this is such a difficult endeavor that it also protects each person’s right to have a public defender appointed to them if they cannot pay for one themselves. Furthermore, a judge is required to make sure that a defendant is intellectually competent of understanding what it means to represent themselves, including the ability to read and understand the law.

So, while you may technically be allowed by the Constitution to defend yourself, you may not truly be able to do so in a way that protects you from the serious risks of self-defense. These include, but are not limited to: