By: Derek Hawkins//July 27, 2015//
Criminal
WI Court Appeals – IV
Officials: Lundsten, Sherman and Kloppenburg, JJ.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Motion for Mistrial
14AP1085-CR State of Wisconsin v. Christopher Anthony Dawson
Christopher Dawson was convicted following a jury trial of four counts related to a home invasion and burglary and one count of witness intimidation, and was acquitted of two additional counts of witness intimidation. He makes five arguments on appeal: (1) his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object and move for a mistrial when Dawson’s half-sister referenced during her trial testimony that her brothers are “known for robberies”; (2) the circuit court erroneously denied Dawson’s motion to exclude certain evidence of Dawson’s gang affiliation, along with his “MAS” tattoo and witness testimony that “MAS” means “Murder All Snitches”; (3) the circuit court erroneously denied Dawson’s motion to sever the witness intimidation charges from the charges related to the home invasion and burglary; (4) the circuit court erroneously denied certain mistrial motions; and (5) the guilty verdict on the witness intimidation charge is not supported by sufficient evidence. We reject Dawson’s arguments and affirm.
Decision
Affirmed. Per Curiam.