When facing your first misdemeanor or felony charge, it can be a trying and confusing time. Do you need a defense attorney? When should you hire one? Can an attorney really help you? The answers to those are questions are "Yes", "Immediately", and "Yes". There are many reasons to hire a criminal defense attorney, but the most important reason is to give yourself your best chance. Below, we share three of the biggest benefits of hiring a defense attorney

Drunk driving is punished severely in Wisconsin, but what qualifies as “driving”? Can you get an OWI on a bike? Technically, the answer is no, you cannot be charged with OWI for riding a bike while intoxicated. However, that does not mean you cannot be charged with other offenses.

Theft occurs when one person steals from another. In Wisconsin, there are different kinds of theft, which carry varying levels of severity and penalties. Larceny, for example, requires intention by one party to steal from another. Embezzlement occurs when one party misappropriates funds or property that was entrusted to them. A theft conviction can even arise from intellectual property theft, ownership rights, or the stealing of services or utilities.

Receiving an OWI for the first time in Wisconsin is a civil crime unless a passenger under 16 years of age is in the vehicle at the time. In that case, it becomes a criminal offense. To no surprise, the penalties for this offense are severe.

Domestic violence may dominate the headlines, but verbal abuse is more common and can quickly cross the line. When that happens, what may have begun as a simple argument can attract the attention of the police and lead to charges.

Driving under the influence is illegal in Wisconsin and the state has made penalties for repeat OWI offenses even more severe in recent years. Laws passed in 2016 and 2018 significantly increased the penalties for the 4th OWI. A 4th OWI is now classified as a felony and a conviction carries with it a lifetime revocation of your driver's license.

It's a sight no Wisconsin driver wants to see...flashing lights in your rearview mirror. The sense of apprehension can grow even stronger if you realize those lights are directed at getting you to pull over. If you've been drinking, you might feel panicked, angry, worried, or any combination of feelings.

Theft charges and convictions for theft vary widely in their severity in Wisconsin, but even the least serious charge, a Class A misdemeanor, can lead to as much as $10,000 in fines and up to 9 months in jail. That is anything but simple or insignificant if you are convicted. Fortunately, there are several defense options that can be used to fight theft char

Wisconsin has an open container law, and it hasn't been suspended because of the pandemic. It's very much in force, and if you're getting alcohol to go from a bar or restaurant, you have to be very careful not to violate the law accidentally. And unfortunately, that's easy to do if you're not used to taking a prepared alcoholic drink away from the place where you'd normally drink it.

Tune into any crime show on TV and you'll hear the term "aiding and abetting" at some point. These two terms are usually mentioned together and are often treated as one charge, but they are different crimes. Aiding and abetting can land you in jail even if you didn't participate in the actual committing of a crime. However, unlike on many TV shows, aiding and abetting in Wisconsin applies to active help, and not just being an unwitting bystander.