Former Milwaukee, Wisconsin police officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown is scheduled to go on trial on June 12, 2017 for the shooting death of 23-year-old Sylville Smith that took place on August 14, 2016. The district Attorney John Chisholm and defense attorney Richard Kohn told Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Conen on Thursday, January 12, that neither are willing to negotiate a plea deal.

Heaggan-Brown allegedly killed Smith during a traffic stop back in August 2016, an incident that sparked two nights of riots in Milwaukee, an event that mirrored events following the deaths of black men at the hands of police officers in Ferguson, Missouri to Baltimore.

The trial followed an earlier hearing, which determined how to handle the two pending cases against Heaggan-Brown: one for homicide and another for unrelated sexual allegations that got him fired from his post in October 2016.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said Heaggan-Brown’s shooting of Smith appeared to be justified after Heaggan-Brown was charged with reckless homicide in December 2016.

Our attorneys at Kohler Hart Powell, SC, who provide legal services in Milwaukee, handle criminal defense cases that involve murder, criminally negligent homicide, and manslaughter. Speak with a qualified member of our legal team today by calling our offices at (414) 271-9595.

Teenager Brandon Lord Newson has been apprehended after committing at least seven carjackings around Milwaukee. The spree occurred across the span of five days and Newson was taken into custody after a combination of fingerprints, bullets, cell phone records, and DNA left on cigarette butts tied him to the crime. Police believe Newson was selling the stolen vehicles to drug dealers.

Newson committed the carjackings by firing warning shots as he approached his victims, making it less likely for a car owner to resist his demands. Among his victims were two men parking outside of their homes, a pregnant woman in a parking lot, and a 73-year-old couple. Newson’s aunt made a statement that her sister had been using drugs and alcohol during her pregnancy, resulting in Newson’s residence in a variety of foster homes, juvenile prisons, and unsupervised homes. According to his aunt, Newson consequently developed mental health problems, accrued a history of rejecting juvenile systems services, and acted violently during a previous stint in jail.

Newson was sentenced to 41 years in prison earlier this month after the District Attorney recommended 50 years. He apologized after being sentenced and made a statement that he had not realized how serious the situation was and wanted to get his life together.

At Kohler Hart Powell, SC, our criminal defense attorneys provide legal services throughout Wisconsin for cases such as drug trafficking, domestic violence, sex crimes, assault, theft, and more. If you are in need of qualified counsel, don’t hesitate to contact our Milwaukee offices at (414) 271-9595 for more information.

Devin Katzfey, 23, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide after beating Delvin Mendoza-Chapparo to death, an incident Katzfey published on Snapchat.

According to the Milwaukee Police, Katzfey’s brother Branden, and 20-year-old Sarah Zakzesky disposed of Mendoza-Chapparo’s body in a snow bank near 6th Street and Arthur Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his corpse was discovered. Branden Katzfey and Zakzesky were also charged with first-degree reckless homicide. The three suspects are scheduled to appear in court during the second week of January.

Katzfey’s legal counsel said this is the first time he has defended someone who posted a video of the crime online, noting, “Social media is a new animal. We’re all learning about it. We’re learning about the ups and downs, and this is obviously a pretty novel case.”

Our criminal defense lawyers at Kohler Hart Powell, SC will do everything in our power to guarantee that your legal rights are upheld and your best interests are prioritized. Speak with a qualified member of our legal team by calling our Milwaukee offices today at (414) 271-9595.

Forty-four-year-old Jerry Jones, a convicted felon, was charged with possessing a firearm when he shot and killed a man who was breaking into his house.

According to court documents, Jones was inside his home in the 3200 block of N. 16th Street at around 11 p.m. on Friday, November 25 when he heard someone trying to break in through the window.

Prosecutors charged Jones with being a felon in possession of a firearm on Wednesday, November 30.

According to Court Commissioner Barry Phillips, “The issue is whether or not [Jones] had the firearm previous to this,” and ruled that, based on the evidence, Jones committed a felony in Milwaukee.

Our Milwaukee criminal defense lawyers at Kohler Hart Powell, SC handle criminal defense cases involving firearms possession that may violate local laws. Call our offices today at (414) 271-9595 to discuss your legal options.

Exotic dancers Ebony Angele Jordan and Bianca Alexandria Strayhorn, 23- and 26-years-old, respectfully, and both residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been charged with felony fleeing police, misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct, and trespassing in relation to a night brawl on Thursday, December 1 at around 9 p.m. at Mettler’s Bar & Restaurant in Mankato in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in Minnesota.

According to witnesses, Jordan, Strayhorn, and two other dancers at the club got into a fight which escalated to “pushing and shoving each other, which caught the attention of staff”.

One of the two dancers, who complained about Jordan and Strayhorn, said Jordan hit her in the face with a stiletto heel, striking her just below one of her eyes. The other girl said Jordan pulled her hair and took out part of her weave. Strayhorn also sprayed them with mace.

If you want your sexual assault case, assault and battery case, murder/homicide case, or other criminal defense cases in Milwaukee dismissed or have a high chance of getting dismissed, entrust it to none other than our capable attorneys at Kohler Hart Powell, SC and call our offices today at (414) 271-9595.

Forty-five-year-old Greendale, Wisconsin retail manager Kevin G. Long faced two felony counts of trafficking a child, but he made a guilty plea to lesser charges.

However, the case made for some unorthodox courtroom arguments, wherein those arguing referenced both a Catholic papal tradition and the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction as the parties discussed how a man should be treated for engaging in an unusual foot fetish. The case came after Long’s admission in June 2016 to paying a 16-year-old Milwaukee boy to lick his feet and offering the 17-year-old friend of the boy money to do the same. Initially, Circuit Judge Jeffrey Wagner sentenced Long to the maximum 90 days of imprisonment on each count, consecutively. However, he later suspended the sentence in favor of three years probation.

Our attorneys at Kohler Hart Powell, SC provide legal services for our clients in Milwaukee and other areas in Wisconsin. We handle criminal defense cases such as sex crimes and domestic violence offenses, among others. Call our offices today at (414) 271-9595 to learn more about your legal options.

Monday, November 14: United States Magistrate Judge William Duffin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has overturned the conviction of 27-year-old Manitowoc County resident Brendan Ray Dassey—from the case that was made famous by the Netflix show Making a Murderer—and ordered that he be released from prison with supervision while waiting for further court developments.

In a 17-page ruling, Duffin said, “There is no indication that [Dassey] has the inclination much less the means to flee or will otherwise fail to appear as may be legally required. Dassey has offered a detailed release plan that was prepared with the assistance of a clinical social worker with experience in similar cases. That social worker would remain involved in assisting Dassey as he adjusts to freedom following his decade in prison.”

State Attorney General Brad Schimel, for his part, appealed to block the release by filing a motion that would seek a stay order from a federal appeals court.

Steven Drizin, one of Dassey’s legal counsels, said that they hope that Dassey would be released as soon as possible, noting, “It’s not going to happen today [Monday] but we are very hopeful we will have Brendan home by Thanksgiving, if not sooner.”

Our criminal defense attorneys at Kohler Hart Powell, SC, which is considered as one of the finest criminal defense law firms in Wisconsin, are dedicated to representing clients who have been charged with federal or state criminal offenses in Milwaukee or other areas within the state. Call our offices today at (414) 271-9595.

University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Alex Cook could face up to 30-counts of sexual assault for criminal complaint cases filed against him at a bail hearing on Thursday, October 27.

University of Wisconsin Police Department spokesperson Marc Lovicott said they have opened their own investigation into Cook as the Madison Police Department continues its own probe into the case of the suspect.

At present, three victims have already come forward to file a case against Cook. UWPD has referred 15 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault to the Dane County Attorney’s Office in relation to Cook’s case.

UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam said Cook has been suspended from the university under the rules of emergency suspension as of Friday, October 21. Wisconsin State Legislature Chapter 17 states that an emergency suspension can be held in place until the decision in the hearing on the underlying charges is rendered or after 30 days have passed, unless the respondent agrees to a longer period of emergency suspension.

Our criminal defense lawyers at Kohler Hart Powell, SC will do everything in our legal power to uphold your legal rights and to protect you interests. If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Milwaukee or other areas in Wisconsin, do not hesitate to employ our legal services by calling our offices today at (414) 271-9595.

Staffing problems at the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory is delaying the testing of firearm evidence in the homicide case of Keller McQuay, 15. McQuay allegedly shot and killed Vista Jackson, 14, last fall, Assistant Racine County District Attorney Jennifer Tanck-Adams said during a status conference in a Racine County courtroom last Wednesday, November 2.

Tanck-Adams said a September 6 press conference about the status of the case was delayed because authorities still did not have the necessary test results. The firearm investigator said the gun used in the alleged homicide – a .22-caliber sawed-off rifle – and two projectiles were still in a vault at the laboratory. “There is one person that is analyzing firearms evidence at this time. [The supervisor] communicated that they have hired three more people, but they are not up to training standards yet,” Tanck-Adams said.

When it comes to your legal defense, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Turn to our skilled criminal lawyers at Kohler Hart Powell, SC, who provide legal services in Milwaukee and other areas in Wisconsin, by calling our offices today at (414) 271-9595.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin resident Calvin Freeman, 55, was convicted of two counts of first-degree rape on Thursday, October 27 by a jury in New Orleans. His charges, which carry with them a mandatory life sentence in the state of Louisiana, are in relation to raping two preteen relatives at a motel called Capri on May 24, 2013.

Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Tucker said the investigators from the New Orleans Police Department discovered that Freeman concluded an 18-day stay at the motel, which is famous for being a prostitution haven, and returned to Milwaukee on May 25, 2013. Freeman, who prosecutors accused of being a pimp called “Grit,” will be sentenced on Nov. 16, 2015 by Criminal District Judge Robin Pittman.

In Freeman’s defense, Joe Rome, Freeman’s legal counsel, said: “When you start with bad assumptions, you end up with bad results. Calvin Freeman was a pimp. But that don’t make you a rapist.”

Our criminal defense lawyers at Kohler Hart Powell, SC provide legal services for our clients in Milwaukee and other areas in Wisconsin and handle criminal defense cases such as drug trafficking and conspiracies, domestic violence offenses, and sex crimes, among others. Call our offices today at (414) 271-9595 to discuss your case.