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Sentencing Guidelines

By: Derek Hawkins//January 2, 2019//

Sentencing Guidelines

By: Derek Hawkins//January 2, 2019//

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Charles L. Neill, IV

Case No.: 2018AP75-CR

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

Focus: Sentencing Guidelines

Charles L. Neill, IV, appeals from his judgment of conviction and an order denying his motion for postconviction relief relating to his conviction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant (OWI) as a third offense. Two penalty enhancers applied to Neill’s offense: (1) committing this crime while driving with a minor under the age of sixteen in the vehicle, pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 346.65(2)(f)2. (2015-16); and (2) committing this crime with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.25 or above, pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 346.65(2)(g)3.

Neill argues that at sentencing, the trial court incorrectly interpreted that statute and thus erred in calculating the minimum fine after taking the penalty enhancers into consideration. Therefore, he requests a sentence modification reducing the fine that was imposed by the trial court. The State argues that although the statute is ambiguous regarding how to calculate the minimum fine when both penalty enhancers apply, the trial court properly interpreted the statute and assessed the correct minimum fine.

We reject Neill’s interpretation of the statute and calculation of the minimum fine that may be imposed. We also reject the State’s contention that the relevant subdivisions of WIS. STAT. § 346.65(2) are ambiguous. Rather, we conclude that a plain reading of the statute supports the calculation of the trial court. We therefore 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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