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Plea & Sentencing

By: Derek Hawkins//October 3, 2018//

Plea & Sentencing

By: Derek Hawkins//October 3, 2018//

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WI Court of Appeals – District II

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Michael C. Starry

Case No.: 2017AP928-CRNM

Officials: Neubauer, C.J., Gundrum and Hagedorn, JJ.

Focus: Plea & Sentencing

Michael C. Starry appeals from a judgment convicting him of second-degree sexual assault of a child contrary to WIS. STAT. § 948.02(2) (2013-14). Starry’s appellate counsel filed a no-merit report pursuant to WIS. STAT. RULE 809.32 (2015-16) and Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Starry received a copy of the report and was advised of his right to file a response. He has not done so. Upon consideration of the report and an independent review of the record as mandated by Anders and RULE 809.32, we summarily affirm the judgment because there are no issues that would have arguable merit for appeal. WIS. STAT. RULE 809.21 (2015- 16).

After Starry entered a no contest plea, the circuit court sentenced him to a twelve-year term (six years of initial confinement and six years of extended supervision). Starry received sentence credit and was deemed ineligible for the Challenge Incarceration Program and the Substance Abuse Progra.

The no-merit report addresses the following possible appellate issues: (1) whether there are any issues with arguable merit arising from the proceedings preceding the entry of Starry’s no contest plea; (2) whether Starry’s no contest plea was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered; (3) whether there is any arguable merit to a challenge to a motion filed but later withdrawn (presentence motion to withdraw the no contest plea); and (4) whether the circuit court misused its sentencing discretion. After reviewing the record, we conclude that counsel’s no-merit report properly analyzes these issues and correctly concludes that these issues lack arguable merit for appeal.

In addition to the issues discussed above, we have independently reviewed the record. Our independent review of the record did not disclose any potentially meritorious issue for appeal. Because we conclude that there would be no arguable merit to any issue that could be raised on appeal, we accept the no-merit report, affirm the judgment of conviction and relieve Attorney Erica Bauer of further representation of Starry in this matter. Upon the foregoing reasons, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the circuit court is summarily affirmed pursuant to WIS. STAT. RULE 809.21 (2015-16). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Erica Bauer is relieved of further representation of Michael C. Starry in this matter. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this summary disposition order will not be published.


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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