By: Derek Hawkins//December 2, 2015//
By: Derek Hawkins//December 2, 2015//
WI Court of Appeals – District I
Case No:2014AP2899-CR; 2014AP2900-CR
Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Eric Christopher Bell
Officials: Curley, P.J., Brennan, J., and Daniel L. LaRocque, Reserve Judge
Pertinent Practice Areas: Criminal – Joinder of Claims – Prejudice – Abuse of Discretion
Eric Christopher Bell appeals from two judgments of conviction entered after a jury found him guilty of multiple sex crimes involving five different children. The judgments arose from two Milwaukee County cases that were consolidated for trial. On appeal, Bell argues that the cases were improperly joined pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 971.12 (2013-14) and that he was substantially prejudiced by the joinder. Because we conclude that the cases were of the same or similar character and, as such, were properly joined as a matter of law, and because the trial court did not erroneously exercise its discretion when it determined that Bell was not substantially prejudiced by the joinder, we affirm.