By: Derek Hawkins//July 23, 2019//
WI Court of Appeals – District III
Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Christopher Dean Buten
Case No.: 2018AP1227-CR
Officials: Stark, P.J., Hruz and Seidl, JJ.
Focus: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Christopher Bunten appeals a judgment convicting him of second-degree sexual assault of an intoxicated person incapable of giving consent. He also appeals an order denying his motion for postconviction relief. Bunten argues his trial attorney was ineffective in various ways. He also argues the circuit court erred by denying his motion for a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. In the alternative, he asks this court to grant him a new trial in the interest of justice. Finally, he argues the circuit court exhibited judicial bias during the postconviction hearing, and we should therefore reverse the order denying postconviction relief and remand for a new postconviction hearing before a different judge. We reject each of Bunten’s arguments and affirm.