Eau Claire Criminal Defense Blog

Wisconsin police often patrol in or near community parks. Most parks post signs listing rules, such as when a park is open to the public or closed, what people may or may not bring into it and other regulations. If police suspect that a person has disobeyed park rules or has committed a criminal offense, such as drug crimes in or near a park that children frequent, they may further investigate to determine if they have probable cause to make an arrest.

That appears to be what happened recently when a man was reportedly taking a nap in a vehicle at a local park. It was nearly 3 a.m. when patrol officers noticed the man and claimed to have smelled marijuana coming from his vehicle when they approached. The officers searched the man's car. 

The field of medicine has progressed significantly in the last few decades, producing amazing medications that can prevent, treat or even cure diseases of all kinds. Some of these drugs have a high risk of dangerous side effects, though, so they follow strict regulation. This includes only obtaining them through a valid prescription from a licensed doctor.

Despite this requirement, many people think it is not a problem to share prescription drugs with friends and family. After all, you may think, if someone else needs it for the same reason, why not share it to avoid the hassle of setting up and going to a doctor appointment to get it?

When a Wisconsin motor vehicle collision occurs, it sometimes leads to criminal charges against one or more drivers. Such situations often include suspected OWI. However, situations involving suspected drunk driving may also lead to addition criminal charges, especially if the accident resulted in injury or death to another person.

That is what happened after a crash that took place when a vehicle left the road and traveled onto a frozen lake. Prosecutors filed charges against the man behind the wheel at the time, stating they had evidence to show he was drunk. The man's car hit a bridge that crossed over the lake.

A common penalty for people who allegedly commit certain crimes is probation. While many people often jump for joy when they receive that verdict, it is not always a walk in the park. Anyone who receives probation as a condition of their sentence should prepare to walk a straight and narrow line to avoid additional troubles with the law.

Probation carries stipulations you must follow to avoid spending time in jail and ending up with a harsher sentence. In most cases, restitution, community service and the completion of a court-ordered education or therapy program are a few probation conditions. Take a few moments to learn what is at stake if you violate the terms of probation. By law, you are responsible for what happens to you while on probation. Any associations you may have with unsavory characters and questionable activities can land you back in hot water and mess up your probation. Keep in mind that probation comes with a set length of time that can range from as little as a few months to several years.