Court Error – Inadmissible Evidence

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: 2015AP2319-CR

Case No.: State of Wisconsin v. Willie Brownlee, Jr.

Officials: Brennan, P.J., Kessler and Brash, JJ.

Focus: Court Error – Inadmissible Evidence

Willie Brownlee Jr. appeals from a judgment of conviction, entered upon a jury’s verdict, for one count of possession of cocaine, fifteen to forty grams, with intent to deliver, contrary to WIS. STAT. §961.41(1m)(cm)3 (2015-16). He also appeals from the order of the trial court denying his motion for postconviction relief. Brownlee argues that the evidence obtained from his vehicle after a traffic stop should have been suppressed because the police officers did not have probable cause to search the vehicle based on the smell of burnt marijuana, nor did they have consent to perform a search of the vehicle.

Brownlee also contends that the trial court erred in admitting text messages from Brownlee’s cell phone because they were not sufficiently authenticated. Furthermore, Brownlee asserts that the texts relating to drug transactions involving pills and marijuana, as opposed to cocaine transactions that would support the charge against him, were erroneously admitted because they were other acts evidence that was inadmissible. 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.