What’s the Penalty for Hiring a Hit Man in Wisconsin?

By Carlos Gamino. Click here for audio version.

In the state of Wisconsin, when you attempt or contribute to a crime, you can be charged with the actual offense – and the courts can convict and sentence you appropriately. But what about hiring a hit man? This guide explains the possible penalties and what you should do if police have accused you of committing this crime.

What’s the Penalty for Hiring a Hit Man in Wisconsin?

Hiring a hit man can lead to specific criminal charges; Wisconsin law calls it conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide. In this context, the law defines a person as committing conspiracy as “whoever, with intent that a crime be committed, agrees or combines with another for the purpose of committing that crime may, if one or more of the parties to the conspiracy does an act to effect its object, be fined or imprisoned or both not to exceed the maximum provided for the completed crime; except that for a conspiracy to commit a crime for which the penalty is life imprisonment, the actor is guilty of a Class B felony.”

In plain English, that means that if you hire a hit man, you’re guilty of committing conspiracy to murder and the state can charge you with (and convict you of) the murder as if you’d done it yourself. You can also be charged and convicted of a crime if you hire a hit man and the murder was never committed (such as when you speak with an undercover police officer rather than a hit man, or when the person you hire does not complete the crime).

In the case of murder, the charge is likely to be first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a penalty of life in prison.

Related: Violent crimes in Wisconsin

What to Do if You’re Accused of Hiring a Hit Man in Wisconsin

If you’ve been accused of hiring a hit man in Wisconsin, you may need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Murder is a serious charge, and it’s one that could put you in prison for the rest of your life – and you could benefit from legal guidance. Call our office at 414-383-6700 right now to schedule your free consultation; we may be able to help you.

Attorney Carlos Gamino