appleton criminal defense lawyers Archives

Can a Criminal Conviction Affect My Future Employment?

July 31, 2026 | Criminal Convictions

If you are currently facing criminal charges in Appleton, one of the biggest questions on your mind should be “what happens in court,” but “what happens after.” You may only see what is immediately in front of you, but you must also think about the future. Long after your case is resolved, the choices you make right now, whether to fight the charge, accept a plea, or pursue an alternative resolution, can shape your ability to get hired for years to come. At Hogan Eickhoff, our criminal defense lawyers help clients think through their case with an eye toward the future, not just the immediate outcome, because the two are often more connected than people realize. Possible Employment Protections in Wisconsin Wisconsin law offers real protections for people with criminal records in the hiring process, but those protections have limits. Although you cannot necessarily see into the future, you must … Continued

What to Expect if You Are Arrested for Domestic Violence

July 15, 2026 | Criminal Convictions

Being arrested for domestic violence is a frightening and disorienting experience, especially when it happens without much warning. Whether the arrest followed a heated argument that escalated or a misunderstanding that spiraled beyond your control, you must be able to make clear decisions during a stressful time. At Hogan Eickhoff, our Appleton criminal defense attorneys regularly guide clients through domestic violence arrests, and we want you to know exactly what to expect from the moment of arrest through the early stages of your case. The Arrest Itself In Wisconsin, police officers who respond to a domestic violence call are required by law to arrest a suspect if they have probable cause to believe an act of domestic abuse occurred. This is different from many other types of calls, where an officer might have discretion to simply separate the parties or issue a warning. Because of this mandatory arrest policy, even … Continued

What Constitutes Theft by Fraud in Wisconsin?

June 20, 2026 | Criminal Convictions

Most people picture theft as someone physically taking property that belongs to another person. Wisconsin law, however, recognizes that property can be stolen through deception just as easily as it can be taken by hand. Theft by fraud occurs when someone obtains another person’s property by lying to them, and prosecutors across the state pursue these charges aggressively. A conviction can result in jail or prison time, steep fines, and a permanent criminal record that follows you for life. If you are facing a theft by fraud charge, the criminal defense attorneys at Hogan Eickhoff can explain the allegations against you and begin building your defense right away. Wisconsin’s Theft by Fraud Statute Theft by fraud is defined in Wisconsin Statute Section 943.20(1)(d). Under this provision, a person commits theft by fraud when they obtain title to the property of another person by intentionally deceiving that person with a false … Continued

Can You Refuse a Breathalyzer in Wisconsin?

June 10, 2026 | Criminal Defense Attorney

It is one of the most common questions drivers ask after a traffic stop goes wrong: can you refuse a breathalyzer in Wisconsin? The short answer is that you can physically refuse, but doing so carries serious and automatic consequences for your driver’s license, and it will not necessarily keep the State from obtaining evidence against you. Wisconsin’s implied consent law makes refusal its own violation, separate from any drunk driving charge. If you have been arrested for OWI or cited for refusing a chemical test, the criminal defense attorneys at Hogan Eickhoff can protect your license and your record. Understanding how the law works is the first step. Wisconsin’s Implied Consent Law Under Wisconsin Statute Section 343.305, anyone who drives on Wisconsin roads is deemed to have already consented to chemical testing of their breath, blood, or urine when a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe they … Continued

What is Clemency in Wisconsin, and How Can it Help Me?

May 25, 2026 | Criminal Convictions

If you or a loved one is serving a sentence that feels unjust, excessively harsh, or no longer reflects the circumstances of your case, clemency may offer a path forward. Clemency is a formal act of mercy granted by a government authority, allowing sentences to be reduced, suspended, or erased entirely. It exists outside the traditional appeals process and can provide relief when the courts cannot. It helps your application when you have an experienced Appleton criminal defense lawyer at Hogan Eickhoff guiding you. Clemency is a direct and special relief that you can only obtain directly from the Governor of Wisconsin. Clemency describes leniency that the Governor may give to you or an incarcerated loved one. It is an umbrella category that encompasses relief that can either reduce a jail sentence or eliminate the conviction altogether. The following are forms of relief that you can receive through the clemency … Continued

How Body Camera Evidence Can Impact Your Criminal Defense

December 31, 2025 | Criminal Defense Attorney

Body cameras are increasingly being used by police departments throughout Wisconsin. Although there is no statewide mandate, individual departments are making it mandatory for officers to wear these body cameras in the performance of their duties. Presumably, body cameras are intended to protect citizens, as a police officer knows that all of their actions are subject to recording. Body cameras can be a double-edged sword in your criminal defense case. Depending on the evidence that was captured, a body camera can either help or hurt your case. An Appleton criminal defense attorney at Hogan Eickhoff can investigate your case and determine what evidence may help you fight the charges against you. The body camera records the circumstances surrounding your arrest. Whether the police officer has made a traffic stop or is responding to a call, they must activate the body camera prior to encountering you. The entire encounter between you … Continued

What to Know About Police Lineups & Eyewitness Identification

October 7, 2025 | Criminal Defense Attorney

You may already be familiar with the concept of a police lineup from your own knowledge of television shows. What you may not know is that you have legal rights that pertain to a police lineup and eyewitness identification of you as a suspect. Law enforcement is not allowed to simply do whatever they want to have you identified as a suspect in a crime. Their ability to conduct lineups is subject to limitations imposed by the Supreme Court and Wisconsin legal precedent. If the identification of you as a suspect was improperly obtained, your criminal defense attorney can move to suppress the identification evidence. Then, the prosecutor may be forced to do without key evidence that they would have used at trial. Contact Hogan Eickhoff immediately for help.

The Role of Witness Credibility in Criminal Cases

September 30, 2025 | Court Hearings

Criminal cases depend on the evidence. The prosecutor may have physical evidence that they are trying to use against you as the defendant, such as fingerprints and weapons. Each form of physical evidence must be authenticated through witness testimony to establish its reliability. The prosecutor will also call witnesses to testify about various observations that can be used to prove their case. This testimony, if it is reliable, could show that you are guilty of the crime that has been charged. A criminal defense attorney from Hogan Eickhoff could call credible witnesses on your behalf while working to challenge witnesses who have been called by the prosecution. As the defendant, witness testimony also plays a crucial role in your case. You are entitled to due process, which allows your side of the story to be told. You do this through testimony and physical evidence of your own. Your witnesses could … Continued

Understanding OWI/DUI Penalties and Defense Strategies in Wisconsin

August 26, 2025 | Criminal Convictions

If you have been charged with OWI in Wisconsin, you may be facing serious penalties besides the loss of your driving privileges. You may be facing jail time, and the penalties may escalate if it was not your first offense, or if there are aggravating factors. However, it is not a foregone conclusion that you would be convicted of the crime or receive the maximum possible sentence. You should hire an OWI attorney from Hogan Eickhoff to represent you in your criminal case. They could review your case to determine whether there are any possible defenses, or they may work with the prosecutor to obtain the best possible legal result.

Computer Crime Defense: Understanding Cybercrime Laws in Wisconsin

August 12, 2025 | Criminal Convictions

The growing use of computers also means that law enforcement is intently focused on catching and prosecuting crimes involving these devices. If you have been charged with computer crimes, either on a state or federal level, you are likely facing substantial penalties that could involve jail time. These cases are extremely complex, and they may involve cutting-edge areas of the law, making it even more crucial that you have early involvement of a criminal defense attorney from Hogan Eickhoff.