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Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Motion for Mistrial

By: Derek Hawkins//July 27, 2015//

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Motion for Mistrial

By: Derek Hawkins//July 27, 2015//

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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.

Full Text


Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing attorney at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.

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