By: Derek Hawkins//January 8, 2020//
WI Court of Appeals – District IV
Case Name: State of Wisconsin v. Matthew J. Steinhorst
Case No.: 2018AP1759-CR
Officials: Fitzpatrick, P.J., Blanchard and Kloppenburg, JJ.
Focus: Court Error – Abuse of Discretion
Matthew Steinhorst appeals a judgment of conviction for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Steinhorst and James Wedekind were both in a vehicle which left the road, rolled over, and caused Wedekind’s death. Steinhorst was charged with multiple vehicular offenses relating to the crash. Before trial, Steinhorst requested that the Sauk County Circuit Court allow him to introduce evidence of character traits and habit pursuant to WIS. STAT. §§ 904.04(1)(a) and (b) and 904.06(1) (2017-18). Steinhorst argued that such evidence would prove, circumstantially, that Wedekind, and not Steinhorst, was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident. The circuit court denied Steinhorst’s motion. Steinhorst contends that the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion in denying his motion. Steinhorst asks this court to reverse those rulings of the circuit court and his judgment of conviction and remand this matter for a new trial. We conclude that the circuit court did not erroneously exercise its discretion in denying Steinhorst’s motion. Therefore, we affirm Steinhorst’s conviction.