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Criminal – Joinder of Claims – Prejudice – Abuse of Discretion

By: Derek Hawkins//December 2, 2015//

Criminal – Joinder of Claims – Prejudice – Abuse of Discretion

By: Derek Hawkins//December 2, 2015//

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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.

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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.

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