Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

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WI Court of Appeals – District IV

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Christopher M. Molzahn

Case No.: 2014AP2953; 2014AP2954

Officials: Kloppenburg, P.J., Sherman and Blanchard, JJ.

Focus: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Christopher Molzahn appeals judgments of conviction for two counts of stalking and one count of felony bail jumping, and the circuit court’s order denying postconviction relief. Molzahn argues that his trial counsel was ineffective in multiple respects, and that the circuit court erroneously excluded medical records evidence relevant to the stalking charges and erroneously imposed restitution for damage to the victims’ vehicles. All but one of Molzahn’s arguments relate to the stalking charges, and we reject those arguments and affirm the judgments as to the stalking convictions in every respect. As to the one argument that relates to the bail jumping charge, we agree that Molzahn’s trial counsel was ineffective and we reverse the bail jumping conviction and remand for a new trial on that charge

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner 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.