Felony Charges Archives » Hogan Eickhoff

Understanding Felonies: Types, Penalties and Defense Strategies in Appleton, WI

December 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense Attorney

In Wisconsin, a felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison. It is a far more serious charge than a misdemeanor, which may be punished by up to a year in county prison. Felonies involve more serious crimes. These crimes could be violent in nature or more serious versions of crimes that may otherwise be misdemeanors. For example, possession of narcotics and theft charges could rise to felonies when they exceed a certain amount of drugs or monetary value, respectively.

What Happens at an Initial Appearance?

March 15, 2022 | Bail

Law enforcement does not have a legal right to hold a defendant indefinitely without them being able to go in front of a judge. Otherwise, it would be a violation of the defendant’s rights that could jeopardize the prosecution. The initial appearance in front of a judge is called an arraignment. There are several substantive things that will happen in an arraignment that provide an introduction of sorts to the case.

Criminal Convictions for Students in Wisconsin

How Criminal Convictions Can Be Particularly Damaging for Students

November 9, 2020 | Criminal Convictions

After high school, many young adults spend time exploring the world and figuring out who they are. This means that some mistakes will be made. Unfortunately, for young adults who are enrolled in a trade school, community college, or university, these mistakes can have consequences that last for years. Students who have criminal convictions might have to deal with a school disciplinary board and might have trouble obtaining a professional license, which could completely bar them from a chosen career. This is why it is so important for students to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer for any criminal charges – even those that seem minor. The sooner an attorney gets involved, the better options he or she will have for resolving your case. The investment of attorney’s fees now can protect your future career plans for years to come.

Preliminary Hearings For Felony Charges in Wisconsin

Preliminary Hearings in Wisconsin

October 27, 2020 | Court Hearings

If you have been charged with a felony offense, you have a legal right to a preliminary hearing in your case. In felony cases, a preliminary hearing is the court appearance that follows the initial appearance hearing. In misdemeanor criminal cases, there is no preliminary hearing. Preliminary hearings are also known as preliminary examinations, probable cause hearings, or simply as ‘prelims.’ As the individual who is accused of committing a criminal offense, you do not have a right to testify at a preliminary hearing. In other words, you cannot take the witness stand and talk about your version of events. However, your lawyer has the right cross-examine any witnesses, including police officers and others, whom the prosecuting attorney calls as a witness. The court will then make a determination about whether probable cause exists to charge you with the felony offense. If you are facing a felony criminal charge, it … Continued

Court Appearances in the State of Wisconsin

Initial Court Appearances in Wisconsin

October 13, 2020 | Court Hearings

If you have been charged with committing a crime in the State of Wisconsin, your first court appearance will be an initial appearance hearing. In some courts, this initial proceeding is referred to as an arraignment proceeding.