Wisconsin Stalking Defense – Criminal Attorneys in Milwaukee

Wisconsin Stalking Defense - Criminal Attorneys in Milwaukee

Stalking offenses in Wisconsin are serious crimes that subject you to significant consequences. For example, it can be a crime to cause emotional distress to someone else repeatedly. In particular, if you do something that would generally cause someone to feel terrified, intimidated, threatened, or harassed, it may be considered stalking in Wisconsin. If the state prosecutes you for harassment with criminal charges for a stalking offense in Milwaukee, or anywhere in Wisconsin, you need thorough representation. The Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys in Milwaukee at Gamino Law Offices, LLC have experience defending Wisconsin harassment offenses, including stalking crimes.

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Wisconsin Stalking Charges

Wisconsin law defines stalking as follows::

Whoever meets all of the following criteria is guilty stalking:

(a) The actor intentionally engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person under the same circumstances to suffer serious emotional distress or to fear bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.

(b) The actor knows or should know that at least one of the acts that constitute the course of conduct will cause the specific person to suffer serious emotional distress or place the specific person in reasonable fear of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.

(c) The actor’s acts cause the specific person to suffer serious emotional distress or induce fear in the specific person of bodily injury to or the death of himself or herself or a member of his or her family or household.

Wisconsin Statute § 940.32(2) 

Definition of terms related to stalking charges in Wisconsin

Course of conduct

Course of conduct means a series of 2 or more acts done by a person or that a person causes another to do, carried out over time, however short or long, that show a continuity of purpose, including any of the following:  

maintaining a visual or physical proximity to the victim;

approaching or confronting the victim;

appearing at the victim’s workplace or contacting the victim’s employer or coworkers;

appearing at the victim’s home or contacting the victim’s neighbors;

entering property owned, leased, or occupied by the victim;

contacting the victim by telephone or causing the victim’s telephone or any other person’s telephone to ring repeatedly or continuously, regardless of whether a conversation ensues;

photographing, videotaping, audiotaping, or, through any other electronic means, monitoring or recording the activities of the victim;

sending material by any means to the victim or, for the purpose of obtaining information about, disseminating information about, or communicating with the victim, to a member of the victim’s family or household or an employer, coworker, or friend of the victim;

placing an object on or delivering an object to property owned, leased, or occupied by the victim;

delivering an object to a member of the victim’s family or household or an employer, coworker, or friend of the victim or placing an object on, or delivering an object to, property owned, leased, or occupied by such a person with the intent that the object be delivered to the victim.

Wisconsin Statute 940.32(1)(a)
Suffer emotional distress

Suffer serious emotional distress means to feel terrified, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or tormented.

Wisconsin Statute 940.32(1)(d)

Possible sentencing consequences for a stalking conviction in Milwaukee or elsewhere in Wisconsin

If convicted of stalking in Wisconsin, that is generally a Class I Felony.

Stalking offenses may be a Class H Felony if any of the following are present:

  • The defendant:
    • has a previous conviction for a violent crime as defined in Wisconsin Statute § 939.632(1)(e)1, stalking, or harassment.
    • has a previous conviction for a crime and the victim of that crime was the victim of the crime in this case, and this case happened within 7 years of the previous conviction.
    • intentionally gained access to or caused another person to gain access to a record in electronic format that contained personally identifiable information regarding the victim in order to facilitate the crime in this case.
    • illegally intercepted electronic or oral communications or used a restricted pen register or trap and trace device in order to facilitate the crime in this case.
  • The victim was under the age of 18 at the time of this offense.

Stalking may be a Class F Felony if any of the following are present: the

  • act resulted in bodily harm to the victim or a member of the victim’s family or household.
  • defendant had a previous conviction for a violent crime as defined in Wisconsin Statute § 939.632(1)(e)1, for stalking, or harassment, and the victim in that crime was the victim in this case; and the crime in this case occurred within 7 ​years after the previous conviction.
  • defendant used a dangerous weapon in carrying out any of the acts that constitute the offense. 

Why hire our Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer to represent you?

In conclusion, we’re on a mission. Specifically, we want your attorney to be the best Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys in Milwaukee, and all Wisconsin. In particular, we guard you, your rights, your reputation, your job, your future, and your freedom! Hence, if police arrest you for stalking in Milwaukee, or anywhere in Wisconsin, call us right away. Also, if you face investigation or charges in Wisconsin for any criminal offense, including harassment, tell police you want an attorney. Demand to see your lawyer before you talk with police. In summary, early intervention by an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Milwaukee makes all the difference in the outcome of a criminal case in Wisconsin.

Of course, not all criminal lawyers in Wisconsin have great trial skills. Similarly, not every Wisconsin criminal attorney will present a compelling case in court. Moreover, lawyers have differing abilities to negotiate a favorable plea agreement. However, our team of accomplished criminal trial and appellate attorneys demonstrate an impressive record of winning litigation skills. Above all, we work to achieve results for our clients. Further, we excel in criminal litigation – from pretrial motions to court or jury trials, and appeals. In conclusion, with decades of combined experience, we have the knowledge and aggressive ability to get the results you need.

Finally, for more information about a Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys in Milwaukee representing clients facing shoplifting charges, or about any of our other legal services available, please contact us today!  Also, Click here for links to Wisconsin courts, jail inmate locators, and other Wisconsin criminal law info.