State v. Hanson
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After a jury trial, Daniel Hanson was found guilty of fleeing a traffic officer, a felony under Wis. Stat. 346.04(3). The court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court also affirmed, holding (1) the circuit court properly instructed the jury on the requirements of section 346.04(3); (2) there does not exist a subjective, good-faith exception to the fleeing law, and Hanson's opportunity to demonstrate any justification for his behavior was through his self-defense claim, which the jury considered and rejected; (3) the circuit court was correct to exclude testimony about the traffic officer's alleged confrontational character because the officer was not a "victim" for purposes of admitting character evidence under Wis. Stat. 904.04(1)(b); and (4) neither the Constitution nor the interests of justice warranted a new trial, as no constitutional infirmities were raised on appeal and the real controversy was tried.
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2012 WI 4 SUPREME COURT CASE NO.: COMPLETE TITLE: OF WISCONSIN 2008AP2759-CR State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Daniel H. Hanson, Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner. REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS Reported at 330 Wis. 2d 140, 792 N.W. 2d 203 (Ct. App. 2010-Published) OPINION FILED: SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: ORAL ARGUMENT: SOURCE OF APPEAL: COURT: COUNTY: JUDGE: JUSTICES: CONCURRED: DISSENTED: NOT PARTICIPATING: February 1, 2012 September 6, 2011 CIRCUIT KENOSHA WILBUR W WARREN, III BRADLEY, J. concurs (Opinion filed). ABRAHAMSON, C. J. dissents (Opinion filed). ATTORNEYS: For the defendant-appellant-petitioner, there were briefs by Chad Lanning and Lanning Law Offices, LLC, West Bend, and Robert R. Henak and Henak Law Office, S.C., Milwaukee and oral argument by Robert R. Henak. For the plaintiff-respondent, the cause was argued by Rebecca Rap St. John, assistant attorney general, with whom on the brief was J.B. Van Hollen, attorney general. 2012 WI 4 NOTICE This opinion is subject to further editing and modification. The final version will appear in the bound volume of the official reports. No. 2008AP2759-CR (L.C. No. 2007CF421) STATE OF WISCONSIN : IN SUPREME COURT State of Wisconsin, FILED Plaintiff-Respondent, FEB 1, 2012 v. A. John Voelker Acting Clerk of Supreme Court Daniel H. Hanson, Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner. REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals. ¶1 PATIENCE DRAKE ROGGENSACK, J. Affirmed. This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals1 that affirmed the judgment of the circuit court,2 holding Daniel H. Hanson guilty of fleeing a traffic § 346.04(3) (2007-08).3 officer, a felony under Wis. Stat. The jury found that Hanson knowingly 1 State v. Hanson, 2010 WI App 146, 330 Wis. 2d 140, 792 N.W.2d 203. 2 The Honorable Wilbur W. Warren, presided. 3 III of Kenosha County All subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2007 08 version unless otherwise noted. We employ the 200708 version of the statutes because there has been no intervening statutory change that affects this decision. No. 2008AP2759-CR fled a sheriff's deputy after a traffic stop, and that Hanson's "willful or wanton disregard" of the officer's signal interfered with or endangered the officer or the public. The jury rejected Hanson's self-defense claim by which he asserted that his flight toward a police station was motivated by his traffic officer would "beat" or "kill" him. fear that the Further, Hanson argues that the circuit court should have admitted evidence of the traffic officer's character on the theory that the officer was a "victim" for purposes of under Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b). admitting character evidence Finally, Hanson briefly raises a constitutional claim that he was deprived of the right to present a defense, and that a new trial is warranted in the interest of justice. ¶2 the We conclude that the circuit court properly instructed jury on the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). Similarly, we hold that there does not exist a subjective, goodfaith exception to the fleeing law, and that Hanson's opportunity to demonstrate any justification for his behavior was through his self-defense claim, which the jury considered and rejected. Additionally, we conclude that the circuit court was correct to exclude testimony about the traffic officer's alleged confrontational character because the officer was not a "victim" under Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b). Finally, we conclude that interest neither the Constitution nor the of justice warrants a new trial, as no constitutional infirmities have been raised and the real controversy has, indeed, Accordingly, we affirm the court of appeals. 2 been tried. No. I. ¶3 On Sheriff's the Deputy morning Eric 2008AP2759-CR BACKGROUND of June 29, Klinkhammer 2006, was Kenosha monitoring County traffic on Interstate 94 when his speed gun registered Hanson's vehicle as traveling 83 miles per hour in a 65 zone.4 mile-per-hour Klinkhammer caught up with Hanson, pulled along the right side of Hanson's motioned vehicle for interstate. (which Hanson to was pull in over the to far the left right lane), side and of the Klinkhammer then activated his emergency lights and came to a stop behind Hanson. ¶4 Soon after the vehicles stopped, but before Klinkhammer was able to get out of his squad car, Hanson exited his vehicle and came toward the squad car with his license in hand, gesticulating, and yelling at the deputy. car's PA system, Klinkhammer return to his vehicle. of his vehicle and told Hanson Using the squad multiple times to When Hanson refused, the deputy got out demanded that Hanson return to his car. Hanson continued to shout at Klinkhammer, pacing back and forth, waving his Klinkhammer return to arms, later his and generally testified. vehicle until acting Hanson continued Klinkhammer 4 "bizarre[ly]," to extended refuse his as to baton, The morning of the incident in question, Klinkhammer had a "ride-along," Ms. Randi Derby, who was then an intern with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department. Derby was interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement and subsequently took a position as a dispatcher with the Brown Deer Police Department. Ms. Derby's account of the events largely corresponds with Klinkhammer's. As stated in the record, the two had not spoken since the day of Ms. Derby's eventful ride-along. 3 No. 2008AP2759-CR which he displayed beside his leg, and ordered Hanson back to his vehicle. ¶5 After Hanson finally re-entered his vehicle, Klinkhammer called for backup and walked over to the passengerside window of Hanson's vehicle to avoid traffic passing on the driver's side. The deputy asked Hanson to passenger-side window and provide his license. roll down the Klinkhammer said that Hanson refused to immediately comply; instead he yelled about the violation perpetrating. of rights that he said Klinkhammer was Hanson said that when he rolled down the window Klinkhammer took his license "very gruffly." Randi Derby, who was a "ride-along" intern with Klinkhammer, said that Hanson "flicked" his license out the window and it fell to the ground. ¶6 At that point, the would be cited for speeding. deputy informed Hanson that he Klinkhammer began walking back to his squad car, but before the deputy could finish writing the ticket, Hanson had again alighted from his vehicle. Once more, Hanson shouted at the deputy, pacing next to the interstate, and, according to both Klinkhammer and Ms. Derby, behaving in a disturbing manner. Hanson said that he got out of his car a second time to explain that he had not been speeding. Hanson said Klinkhammer "screamed" at him to "Get back in the car." Klinkhammer said that displayed vehicle. next to his he again leg, and extended ordered his baton, Hanson which back to he his Recognizing the tension in the situation to be rising, the deputy once more radioed for backup. 4 No. ¶7 2008AP2759-CR Klinkhammer then told Hanson that he was under arrest. At that point, Hanson abruptly abandoned his tirade and ran to his car. As Hanson entered his vehicle, Klinkhammer reached for Hanson and ripped Hanson's shirt as he squirmed away from the deputy. with Hanson locked his car door and pulled out into traffic, Klinkhammer standing approximately two feet from the vehicle. ¶8 After escaping to his car, Hanson immediately telephoned 911 and demanded directions to the nearest police station because, as he said, Klinkhammer was "endangering my life." As Hanson drove down the interstate, he was in constant communication with the 911 dispatcher who initially directed Hanson to pull over, after which he informed Hanson that other officers were on the way, and that their presence would mitigate any perceived threat from Klinkhammer. After Hanson refused multiple requests by the dispatcher to pull over and continued to demand directions to the nearest police station, the dispatcher began guiding Hanson to the Pleasant Prairie police station. ¶9 During the course of Hanson's flight, Kenosha County Sheriff's Deputy Samuel Sturino joined Klinkhammer in pursuit of Hanson. As Hanson exited Interstate 94, Sturino positioned his fully marked squad car with lights and sirens on, where Hanson clearly could see him, but not in such a way as to totally block Hanson's travel. not stop. nearly After struck the Hanson ignored Sturino's directions and did Hanson squad briefly car, the 5 swerved toward Sturino and deputy quickly pulled his No. vehicle ahead of Hanson's to cut him off. 2008AP2759-CR Hanson was forced to a stop at the next red light. ¶10 After Hanson was stopped at the light, the deputies exited their vehicles, approached the driver's side of Hanson's vehicle, and ordered Hanson to exit the car; Hanson refused. Klinkhammer demanded multiple times that Hanson open the door and exit the vehicle. Klinkhammer would He warned that if Hanson did not comply, break the window to open the door. When Hanson refused to open his door, Klinkhammer broke the window, opened the door, and he and Sturino "directed [Hanson] to the ground." ¶11 Hanson was initially charged with a misdemeanor under Wis. Stat. § 346.04(2t), for failure to stop his vehicle after receiving a signal from a marked police vehicle. Well before trial, however, prosecutors dismissed the misdemeanor charge and charged Hanson under the felony fleeing and eluding statute, § 346.04(3).5 Hanson claimed he fled because he feared for his life due to Klinkhammer's aggressive conduct. motion in limine by Hanson, the circuit In response to a court held that testimony about Klinkhammer's alleged confrontational character would not be admitted. Hanson had argued that such testimony was admissible on the theory that Klinkhammer was a "victim" of Hanson's flight for purposes of the character evidence rule, 5 Hanson also was charged with two counts of violating Wis. Stat. § 946.41(1), obstructing an officer. Other than the general challenges to his conviction on grounds of evidentiary infirmities and on his interest of justice claim, Hanson does not challenge those convictions here. 6 No. Wis. Stat. constituted § 904.04. felony A fleeing jury found under that 2008AP2759-CR Hanson's § 346.04(3), actions notwithstanding Hanson's self-defense claim, and judgment was entered on the jury's guilty verdict. ¶12 On appeal, Hanson challenged the verdict on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to show that he knowingly fled, or that he did so with "willful or wanton disregard" of the officers' directions or the public's safety. Additionally, Hanson has argued that the circuit court erred as a matter of law when it excluded evidence of Klinkhammer's character. court of appeals affirmed Hanson's conviction. The Hanson petitions us to overturn the jury's verdict based on insufficiency of the evidence to prove a violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) as he interprets § 346.04(3) and based on his interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b). evidentiary Hanson asserts that the circuit court's ruling excluding evidence of Klinkhammer's aggressive character precluded Hanson from fully presenting his theory of self-defense. He contends that this is a constitutional basis for reversal, as well as the basis for a new trial in the interest of justice. ¶13 We granted review and now affirm the court of appeals. II. A. ¶14 DISCUSSION Standard of Review Hanson frames part of his appeal as a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. he actually § 346.04(3). is asking However, as a foundational matter, us to Questions interpret of statutory 7 and apply Wis. interpretation Stat. and No. 2008AP2759-CR application are questions of law that we review independently. See State v. Jensen, 2010 WI 38, ¶8, 324 Wis. 2d 586, 782 N.W.2d 415. Here, we are asked to interpret and apply § 346.04(3) and Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b). ¶15 We also independently review whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain a jury verdict, but in so doing, we view the evidence most favorably to sustaining the conviction. Tammy W-G. v. Jacob T., 2011 WI 30, ¶17, 333 Wis. 2d 273, 797 N.W.2d 854; State v. Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d 493, 501, 451 N.W.2d 752 (1990). Finally, we independently review Hanson's constitutional claim as a question of law, Randy A.J. v. Norma I.J., 2004 WI 41, ¶12, 270 Wis. 2d 384, 677 N.W.2d 630, and his interest of justice claim in accordance with this court's discretion under Wis. Stat. § 751.06. B. ¶16 General Principles of Statutory Interpretation When we engage in statutory interpretation, we focus on the words that the legislature chose for the statute. Our task the in "statutory interpretation is to determine what statute means so that it may be given its full, proper, and intended effect." Cnty., 2004 WI State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane 58, ¶44, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110. Statutory language is given its "common, ordinary, and accepted meaning, phrases meaning." except are that given Id., ¶45. technical their or specially-defined technical or special words or definitional Moreover, we examine statutory language with the purpose of giving "reasonable effect to every word, in order to avoid surplusage." Id., ¶46. 8 No. ¶17 "Context and [statutory] purpose are 2008AP2759-CR important in discerning the plain meaning of a statute." Jensen, 324 Wis. 2d 586, that ¶15. We favor statute's purpose. an Id. interpretation fulfills the "Statutory interpretation involves the ascertainment of meaning, not a search for ambiguity." Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶47 (quoting Bruno v. Milwaukee Cnty., 2003 WI 28, ¶25, 260 Wis. 2d 633, 660 N.W.2d 656). 1. ¶18 "willful Based or on Wisconsin Stat. § 346.04(3) various wanton," as arguments, it is Hanson employed asserts that Wis. Stat. in § 346.04(3), requires an evil or malicious state of mind when disregarding the officer's direction. He asserts his conduct could not satisfy the statutory standard because he fled out of fear that the officer would injure him. ¶19 Our first task then is to interpret the language of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). Based on that interpretation, we decide whether the circuit court erred in instructing the jury that willful disregard of an officer's signal was sufficient to support a conviction under the statute and whether the evidence was sufficient to support the jury verdict. must determine provided a whether subjective the good Additionally, we legislature's choice faith when defense of an language individual charged under the statute maintains that he acted without evil intent or ill will. ¶20 Wisconsin Stat. § 346.04(3) provides: No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visual or audible signal from a traffic officer, or 9 No. 2008AP2759-CR marked police vehicle, shall knowingly flee or attempt to elude any traffic officer by willful or wanton disregard of such signal so as to interfere with or endanger the operation of the police vehicle, or the traffic officer or other vehicles or pedestrians, nor shall the operator increase the speed of the operator's vehicle or extinguish the lights of the vehicle in an attempt to elude or flee. ¶21 We conclude that the term "willful" as used in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) is defined by examining its use within the context of this specific statute. is susceptible of different This is so because "willful meanings in different contexts." State v. Cissell, 127 Wis. 2d 205, 210, 378 N.W.2d 691 (1985). ¶22 In Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), "willful" modifies "disregard." In that context, "willful" requires a subjective understanding by the defendant that a person known by the defendant to be a traffic officer has directed the defendant to take a particular defendant direction. compliance chose to action, act in and with that understanding, contravention of the the officer's Accordingly, the purpose it serves is to require with personnel. directions made Furthermore, in the by known nearly 150 law years enforcement since this court's decision in State v. Preston, 34 Wis. 675 (1874), our interpretations of the term "willful" have demonstrated that, contrary to Hanson's suggestion, an act done "willfully" does not require a showing of "personal hate or ill will." See, e.g., Cissell, 127 Wis. 2d at 212. ¶23 In Cissell, we examined the meaning of "willful" in a criminal context and concluded that our earlier discussion of the term in Preston, in which 10 we had equated acts done No. 2008AP2759-CR "willfully" to those done with "malice," was not intended to impose upon "willful" a heightened intent requirement. See Cissell, 127 Wis. 2d at 210-12 (examining Preston, 34 Wis. at 683 84). We distinguished "malice" in its colloquial sense, which may imply evil intent, personal hate, or ill will, and concluded that, in a legal sense, "malice" does not require a showing of anything more than criminal intent. ¶24 See id. at 212. Hanson asserts that the meaning of "willful or wanton" in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) is ambiguous, and that a synthesis of various dictionary However, Hanson's definitions resort to provides the dictionary proper guidance. definitions for the meaning of "willful or wanton" in § 346.04(3) will not disrupt the manner in which we establish the meaning of those terms. Rather, our precedent instructs that we look to the context in which a statutory term is used, Kalal, 271 Wis. 2d 633, ¶46. Most importantly, if the language of the statute is clear on its face, that plain meaning is applied. ¶25 Preston, Hanson 34 Wis. relies at heavily 683, undoubtedly susceptible degrees intensity of purpose of the writer." the phrase of that on the See id., ¶45. this term different according to court's "willfully shades the statement of context in . . . is meaning or and evident Pointing to Preston, Hanson argues that "willful or wanton" in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) is ambiguous, and that the term should be read to require something more than criminal intent, such as evil intent. As we explained above, we reject this interpretation of willful, as it neither comports with our interpretations of willful in other contexts 11 No. since Preston, nor does it support the 2008AP2759-CR statutory purpose of requiring compliance with directions from known law enforcement personnel. ¶26 Hanson includes a also good asserts faith exception, subjective self-defense claim. regardless of whether that the Wis. as Stat. a sort § 346.04(3) of built-in, In effect, Hanson claims that, jury found his actions to be justifiable self-defense, he could not have violated § 346.04(3) because he lacked the requisite scornful state of mind willfully or wantonly disregard the officer's signals. argument, similar to Hanson's argument that the trial to This court erroneously interpreted § 346.04(3), is contrary to the plain meaning of the fleeing statute. ¶27 Based on the conduct necessary to show a "willful" disregard, we decline to read Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) providing a good faith exception to compliance. requires: person as The statute a subjective understanding by the defendant that a known by the defendant to be a traffic officer has directed the defendant to take a particular action, and with that understanding, the defendant chose to act in contravention of the officer's direction. This requirement does not include a showing that the defendant had an evil or scornful state of mind. ¶28 After hearing the testimony and viewing the evidence, the jury was given the jury instruction, which states that to satisfy the statutory elements of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), the State must have shown that Hanson (1) "operated a motor vehicle 12 No. 2008AP2759-CR on a highway after receiving a visual or audible signal from a marked police vehicle," and (2) that he "knowingly fled or attempted to elude a traffic officer by willful disregard of the visual or audible signal so as to endanger other vehicles."6 JI Criminal 2630 (as modified). instruction offender on self-defense, show: (1) that Further, the jury was given the which he Wis requires believed that that there an alleged existed an actual or imminent unlawful interference with his person; (2) that his actions interference; were necessary and reasonable. (3) See that Wis to his prevent beliefs JI Criminal or terminate were 800 the objectively (self-defense instruction); cf. State v. Coleman, 206 Wis. 2d 199, 210 11, 556 N.W.2d 701 (1996) (setting out elements of self-defense claim, including core elements of perceived threat, necessity, and objective reasonability). ¶29 The jury concluded that Hanson was not acting in self- defense when he fled the scene of the initial stop or when he attempted to elude Sturino's squad car, which was in "complete emergency mode." If we were to interpret Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) as encompassing a good faith defense, we would, in effect, nullify the jury's findings that Hanson's actions did 6 The jury instructions define "traffic officer" as "every officer authorized by law to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violation of traffic regulations." Wis JI Criminal 2630. 13 No. not qualify as self-defense.7 2008AP2759-CR The jury was properly instructed on self-defense. ¶30 when it satisfy Committee We also conclude that the jury was properly instructed was told the statutory was that correct a finding of requirements. in permitting willful The the disregard Jury omission would Instructions of the "or wanton" option from the instructions for fleeing an officer, at least in this case. See Wis JI Criminal 2630 cmt. 3 (omitting "wanton" unless deemed necessary in a particular case). willful or wanton statutory violation. disregard is sufficient to result Either in a However, including wanton would have added nothing here because the State's case was not that Hanson acted in any way other than with willful disregard of Klinkhammer's and Sturino's signals when he drove away after being stopped by 7 Moreover, it is not clear what effect a good faith defense would have that is not already served by a self-defense claim or by the application of the statutory elements. For example, if the subjective defense is that Hanson intended no harm, the statute's criminal intent requirement controls; that is, neither harm nor the intent to cause harm are elements of fleeing an officer. Alternatively, the argument that Hanson's fear of Klinkhammer precludes any violation of the statutory elements ignores the fundamental purpose of a self-defense instruction: the reasonability of Hanson's fear and his actions were questions properly before the jury, and were answered in the negative. 14 No. Klinkhammer and refusing to stop for Sturino.8 2008AP2759-CR Hanson's asserted good faith cannot overcome the meaning of the statute's language and the jury's finding that Hanson was not proceeding in selfdefense. ¶31 We therefore turn to whether sufficient to support the jury's verdict. the evidence was A conviction based on a jury's verdict will be sustained unless "the evidence, viewed most favorably to the state and the conviction, is so insufficient in probative value and force that it can be said as a matter of law that no trier of fact, acting reasonably, could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." Wis. 2d at substantial verdict 501. This burden for set aside high standard a defendant on grounds of seeking Poellinger, 153 translates to insufficient have into a a jury's evidence. See State v. Booker, 2006 WI 79, ¶22, 292 Wis. 2d 43, 717 N.W.2d 676. ¶32 most Viewing the evidence presented at trial in the light favorable correct to the interpretation State, of we Wis. conclude Stat. that based § 346.04(3) on there the was, indeed, sufficient evidence for a reasonable finder of fact to 8 The legislature's use of the disjunctive in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) provides that either willful or wanton acts demonstrating disregard for a traffic officer's signal will violate the statute a showing of both elements is not necessary. This case does not require us to interpret the term "wanton," and we therefore conclude that Hanson's argument analogizing "willful or wanton" in § 346.04(3) to the phrase "willful and wanton" in other contexts is inapposite, based on the legislature's clear choice of language. 15 No. have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 2008AP2759-CR The jury heard Klinkhammer's, Hanson's, and Ms. Derby's accounts of the initial traffic stop and Hanson's flight from the scene, as well as the accounts of passersby Anthony Bowen and attempted to stop Hanson a second time. Deputy Sturino, who Hanson was given the opportunity to present testimony of his fear during the initial encounter, and he discussed how overwhelming and frightening the entire event was for him. The jury considered all the evidence, weighed it against proper legal standards, and reached findings that were reasonable. We will not disturb those findings on review. 2. ¶33 Wisconsin Stat. § 904.04(1)(b) Hanson also argues that the circuit court erred by excluding evidence of Klinkhammer's character. admit a served school as a principal's school "confrontational, Hanson argues testimony liaison aggressive, that that, officer, and Klinkhammer, as he Hanson sought to when demonstrated hot-tempered" the Klinkhammer "object" a character. of Hanson's alleged crime of fleeing, was a "victim" within the meaning of Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b), and therefore, evidence of the deputy's confrontational character is admissible to show that he acted in conformity with that "pertinent trait of character." ¶34 Hanson's argument requires us to interpret the meaning of "victim" under Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b) where a violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) is alleged. This is so because, without a under determination that an exception § 904.04(1) applies, propensity evidence is inadmissible in the context of a criminal 16 No. trial. 2008AP2759-CR See § 904.04(1); see also State v. Sullivan, 216 Wis. 2d 768, 783, 576 N.W.2d 30 (1998). ¶35 Wisconsin Stat. § 904.04(1) provides in relevant part: (1) CHARACTER EVIDENCE GENERALLY. Evidence of a person's character or a trait of the person's character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that the person acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except: . . . . (b) Character of victim. Except as provided in s. 972.11(2), evidence of a pertinent trait of character of the victim of the crime offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same, or evidence of a character trait of peacefulness of the victim offered by the prosecution in a homicide case to rebut evidence that the victim was the first aggressor. ¶36 Typically, where a crime involves a victim, such as in the case of an assault or a homicide, the defendant is given "[w]ide latitude" to use evidence of the victim's character to show action "in conformity therewith." Wisconsin Practice Series: 2008). See 7 Daniel D. Blinka, Wisconsin Evidence § 404.5 (3d ed. But as Professor Blinka notes, where no "victim" exists, the general ban on propensity evidence will be enforced. See id.; see also Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1). ¶37 Therefore, the precise question we must decide is whether, under Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b) in the context of a fleeing charge under Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), a traffic officer from whom a defendant allegedly fled is a "victim" subject to the character evidence exception in § 904.04(1)(b). Although this court has not previously examined this specific question, Hanson directs our attention to State v. Haase, 2006 WI App 86, 293 Wis. 2d 322, 716 N.W.2d 526. 17 Hanson contends that in Haase No. 2008AP2759-CR the court of appeals held that an officer may be considered a "victim" for purposes of restitution under Wis. Stat. § 973.20. Additionally, Hanson argues briefly that, as a constitutional matter, his right to present a defense requires that he be allowed to introduce evidence of Klinkhammer's character traits. We will discuss these arguments in turn. ¶38 In Haase, the circuit court had ordered the defendant to reimburse the Dane County Sheriff's Department for the cost of a squad car that was destroyed by fire after officers pursued the fleeing defendant across difficult terrain. Id., ¶4. The court of appeals examined three other "victim" cases in which restitution had been awarded, and reaffirmed what it interpreted as the appropriate rule in determining to whom restitution was due. Id., ¶¶8 13 (examining State v. Ortiz, 2001 WI App 215, 247 Wis. 2d 836, 634 N.W.2d 860, State v. Howard-Hastings, 218 Wis. 2d 152, 579 N.W.2d 290 (Ct. App. 1998), and State v. Schmaling, 198 Wis. 2d 756, 543 N.W.2d 555 (Ct. App. 1995)). ¶39 In Haase, the court of appeals denied restitution for the destruction of the department's property. court reasoned that a "direct victim" was In so doing, the required for the recovery of restitution, and that if there were such a victim, it would be the individual law enforcement officers, rather than the sheriff's department. ¶40 Hanson Id., ¶¶14-15. From the reasoning of the court of appeals in Haase, now argues that we should superimpose the court's reasoning about who may be a victim from restitution law onto Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1), an evidentiary statute. 18 We reject this No. argument. 2008AP2759-CR First, we conclude that neither Haase nor any of the other restitution cases supports the conclusion that a traffic officer is a "victim" for evidentiary purposes under § 904.04(1)(b) in the context of a fleeing charge under Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). ¶41 Second, the rationale underlying interpretations of the term "victim" in Wis. Stat. § 973.20 is not persuasive when interpreting rules of evidence. This is so because the principles underlying the restitution statute are different from the principles of relevance and prejudice upon which evidentiary rules are grounded. ¶42 is Restitution is not grounded in victimhood; rather, it based on principle others' See See Blinka, supra, § 402.01. the that an property Wis. Stat. sentencing criminal's actor destruction of property should not be being held financially § 973.20(2)(b) ("If a without resulted in damage to or permitted crime loss or to and the destroy responsible. considered at destruction of property, the restitution order may require that the defendant . . . pay the owner or owner's designee the reasonable repair or replacement cost."); see also Restatement (Third) of Restitution and Unjust Enrichment § 40 cmt. d (2011). Any recovery that a governmental entity would have is, therefore, not grounded in the entity's being a "victim" under § 973.20(1r). entity's recovery is based on its ownership Instead, the (or status as designee) of the property damaged or destroyed. ¶43 Moreover, admission of evidence of Klinkhammer's character may have been barred under Wis. Stat. § 904.03, which 19 No. 2008AP2759-CR addresses the exclusion of unfairly prejudicial evidence when a § 904.03 objection has been made. admissibility of evidence probativeness of the is determined evidence prejudice upon admission. In such a circumstance, the with by the balancing danger of the unfair State v. Head, 2002 WI 99, ¶129, 255 Wis. 2d 194, 648 N.W.2d 413. Here, the circuit court did not rule on the basis of § 904.03. However, admission of evidence of the character that the deputy exhibited as a liaison officer would have added little to the jury's understanding of his actions during the traffic stop, in that it was repetitive of other testimony, and it likely would have confused the jury as to the relevant issues. exercised its Therefore, the circuit court properly discretion when it excluded evidence of Klinkhammer's character. C. ¶44 Constitutional and Interest of Justice Claims We will briefly address Hanson's constitutional right-to-present-a-defense justice because claims, Hanson has and addressed remaining interest these of arguments only in a cursory fashion. ¶45 The right to present a defense is grounded in principles of due process and confrontation, and ensures that criminal defendants are not deprived of legitimate opportunities to challenge evidence that the State's could create members of the jury. 294 95 (1973). theory, and reasonable generally doubt in to the present minds of See Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, That right is limited, though, as this court and the United States Supreme Court have recognized. 20 See, e.g., No. Taylor v. Illinois, limitations including on 484 U.S. 400, constitutional exclusion of 410 right evidence (1988) to (acknowledging present "inadmissible 2008AP2759-CR a defense, under standard rules of evidence"); State v. Pulizzano, 155 Wis. 2d 633, 64647, 456 N.W.2d 325 (1990) (same). As these and many other cases make clear, the rules of evidence generally have been held to comply with the constitutional right to present a defense. Hanson's challenge does nothing to draw those precedents into question. Davis See Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68 (2004); v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 822 (2006) (discussing exceptions to the hearsay rule and the right of confrontation). ¶46 Finally, Hanson asks this court to order a new trial in the interest of justice, on the theory that the lower courts were not apprised of this court's decision regarding the meaning of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). We may order a new trial in the interest of justice when the facts or the law so requires. See Wis. Stat. § 751.06; see also State v. Hicks, 202 Wis. 2d 150, 159, 549 N.W.2d 435 (1996). courts' decisions appears no reason another jury. as to to Here, because we affirm the prior the permit meaning Hanson of to that statute, present his there case to The interest of justice would be ill-served by such an order. III. ¶47 the jury CONCLUSION We conclude that the circuit court properly instructed on the requirements of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). Similarly, we hold that there does not exist a subjective, goodfaith exception to the fleeing 21 law, and that Hanson's No. 2008AP2759-CR opportunity to demonstrate any justification for his behavior was through his self-defense claim, which the jury considered and rejected. Additionally, we conclude that the circuit court was correct to exclude testimony about the traffic officer's alleged confrontational character because the officer was not a "victim" under Wis. Stat. § 904.04(1)(b). Finally, we conclude that interest neither the Constitution nor the of justice warrants a new trial, as no constitutional infirmities have been raised and the real controversy has, indeed, been tried. Accordingly, we affirm the court of appeals. By the Court. The decision affirmed. 22 of the court of appeals is No. ¶48 ANN WALSH BRADLEY, J. 2008AP2759-CR.awb (concurring). Although I agree with the majority that Hanson is not entitled to a new trial, I write majority's separately discussion of because I am willfulness may concerned be that the misconstrued in future cases. ¶49 The majority begins its statutory interpretation with a correct statement of the law. is susceptible of Majority op., ¶21. different It acknowledges that "willful meanings in different contexts." It determines that "the term willful as used in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) is defined by examining its use within the context of this specific statute." ¶50 Id. Later, however, the majority appears to paint with a broader brush. It rejects Hanson's proposed interpretation of the term willful, as used in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), because "it neither comports with our interpretation of willful in other contexts since Preston, nor does it support the statutory purpose of requiring compliance with directions from known law enforcement personnel." ¶51 Id., ¶25. This statement could be construed to imply that this court has uniformly interpreted the term "willful" since State v. Preston, 34 Wis. 675 (1874). incorrect. Such an implication would be In Cissell, a case that post-dated Preston by 90 years, this court stated: "As a general proposition, the word willful cannot be defined without reference to its use in a specific willful statute. is contexts." In susceptible State v. [Preston], of we different Cissell, 1 127 specifically meanings in Wis. 2d 205, noted that different 210, 378 No. N.W.2d 691 (1985). ambiguous, and 2008AP2759-CR.awb We have stressed that the term "willful" is that no single applicable in all statutes. definition of willful will be Dep't Transp. v. Wis. Auto. & Truck Dealers Assn., 111 Wis. 2d 80, 87, 330 N.W.2d 159 (1983).1 ¶52 Despite my concerns with the majority's analysis, I agree with its ultimate conclusion in this case. had his day in court. Here, Hanson The jury was instructed that it must find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that "[t]he defendant knowingly fled or attempted to elude a traffic officer by willful disregard of the visual or audible signal so as to endanger other vehicles." ¶53 afforded Hanson did not object to the instruction. In presenting his theory of self-defense, Hanson was the opportunity to prove disregarding the officer's signal. that he was justified in In finding Hanson guilty, 1 Additionally, the majority confuses the standard of review. It states that an appellate court "independently review[s] whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain a jury verdict, but in so doing, we view the evidence most favorably to sustaining the conviction." Majority op., ¶15. This stated standard is contrary to our well-established precedent. See State v. Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d 493, 506, 451 N.W.2d 752 (1990) (concluding that an appellate court should not review the evidence independently, because doing so would usurp the function of the trier of fact). Also, this standard is selfcontradictory. How can a court review the evidence "independently" and, at the same time, "most favorably to sustaining the conviction"? Later in the opinion, the majority sets forth the correct standard of review. Majority op., ¶31 (quoting Poellinger, 153 Wis. 2d at 501) ("A conviction based on a jury's verdict will be sustained unless 'the evidence, viewed most favorably to the state and the conviction, is so insufficient in probative value and force that it can be said as a matter of law that no trier of fact, acting reasonably, could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.'"). 2 No. 2008AP2759-CR.awb the jury considered and rejected Hanson's assertion that his action was justified. Accordingly, like the conclude that Hanson is not entitled to a new trial. 3 majority, I No. ¶54 SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, C.J. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa (dissenting). I dissent because the majority opinion reads the words "willful or wanton" out of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). Additionally, the majority presents an imbalanced fact section, relying primarily on the law enforcement officer's telling the whole story. version of the events rather than The majority's statement of the facts seems like a subtle attempt to make the legal reasoning more persuasive. I begin by discussing the statute and then try to present the defendant's version of the events so that the reader gets a more balanced statement of the facts. I ¶55 The defendant was charged with felony fleeing an officer in violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), which provides as follows: No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visual or audible signal from a traffic officer, or marked police vehicle, shall knowingly flee or attempt to elude any traffic officer by willful or wanton disregard of such signal so as to interfere with or endanger the operation of the police vehicle, or the traffic officer or other vehicles or pedestrians, nor shall the operator increase the speed of the operator's vehicle or extinguish the lights of the vehicle in an attempt to elude or flee. (Emphasis added.) ¶56 The statute is difficult to read. The commas almost seem to have been dropped into the text at random, making the last "nor" clause especially hard to understand in relation to 1 No. the rest of the subsection.1 scienters. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Moreover, there are two different The statute uses the word "knowingly" and also uses the phrase "willful or wanton." None of these words is defined in the statute or in the jury instructions. ¶57 What is clear in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), however, is that the legislature explicitly included the words "willful or wanton" preceding, and thus modifying, the words "disregard of such [visual or audible] signal."2 cannot be disregarded. The words "willful or wanton" Statutes are to be read to give effect to every word; surplusage is to be avoided.3 ¶58 Furthermore, the phrase takes on special importance in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), which sets forth three levels of fleeing offenses. The statute defining felony uses the phrase "willful or wanton." fleeing, § 346.04(3), This phrase is omitted in § 346.04(2t), the statute defining misdemeanor fleeing, and is also omitted in § 346.04(1) and (2), the statutes defining a civil forfeiture.4 The three levels of fleeing offenses in Wis. Stat. § 346.04 reflect the legislature's intent to graduate the penalties based on the gravity of the fleeing offense. The 1 For a published decision of the court of appeals involving interpretation of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3), the proper instructions, and the sufficiency of evidence, see State v. Beamon, 2011 WI App 131, 336 Wis. 2d 438, 804 N.W.2d 706 (pet. for review filed). 2 The word "knowingly" precedes and thus modifies the words "flee or attempt to elude." 3 Robin K. v. Lamanda M., 2006 WI 68, ¶16, 291 Wis. 2d 333, 718 N.W.2d 38. 4 The penalties are set forth in Wis. Stat. § 346.17. 2 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa phrase "willful or wanton" cannot be ignored in light of the legislative scheme of graduated penalties.5 ¶59 A heightened mental state is one factor that clearly separates felony feeing from the misdemeanor and civil offenses in Wis. Stat. § 364.04.6 Yet the jury was not instructed about the meaning of the word "willful." Further, the pattern Jury Instructions for Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) declare that "wanton" "does not add anything substantial to the offense"7 and simply remove the words "or wanton" entirely from the jury's 5 For further discussion of the statutory history of the graduated penalties, see ¶¶76-80, infra. 6 There are other differences as well. The misdemeanor is defined as follows: "No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visible or audible signal to stop his or her vehicle from a traffic officer or marked police vehicle, shall knowingly resist the traffic officer by failing to stop his or her vehicle as promptly as safety reasonably permits." Wis. Stat. § 346.04(2t). The felony statute requires fleeing or attempting to elude, as opposed to "resisting." The felony statute also requires some sort of aggravated physical circumstances that are absent from the misdemeanor statute, that is, endangerment or interference with other vehicles, increasing speed, or extinguishing lights. Thus, a heightened mental state is not the only factor that distinguishes misdemeanor from felony fleeing, but it should not be ignored. 7 Wis JI Criminal 2630, note 3. 3 No. consideration.8 removing "or 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Putting aside the appropriateness of ordinarily wanton" from the jury focus on the meaning of "willful." instructions entirely, I The jury did not receive any instructions about the meaning of "willful," which is an element of the offense. The parties argue the meaning of the word in the present case as a matter of law. ¶60 The "knowing." State Thus argues the that State "willful" views the is word synonymous as redundant with and believes the jury was properly instructed. ¶61 The majority opinion, ¶¶22 and 27, defines "willful" as requiring "a subjective understanding by the defendant that a person known by the defendant to be a traffic officer has directed the defendant to take a particular action, and with that understanding, the defendant chose to act in contravention of the officer's direction." essentially holds that Without saying so, the majority "willful" 8 is synonymous with the Jury instructions often include factual alternatives parenthetically, giving circuit courts the option to remove those that are irrelevant, but here "or wanton" was deleted entirely. A footnote suggests that circuit courts can insert it when necessary, but the assumption is that "or wanton" has little or no meaning and will rarely, if ever, be included. This treatment of "wanton" is problematic because it ignores the plain language of the statute. It is also problematic because "or wanton" helps give meaning to "willful." Why should the Jury Instructions Committee assume that one of the potential required mental states is irrelevant? A jury should know that the statute requires "willful or wanton" conduct and should be instructed on the meaning of those words. The jury should then decide whether a defendant's conduct satisfies either. 4 No. legislature's definition of the word 2008AP2759-CR.ssa "intentional" in the criminal code.9 ¶62 The majority's "intentional" is legislature approach equating immediately meant for suspect the scienter "willful" because had requirement to "intentional," it would have used the word "intentional." majority's approach of equating "willful" with with the be The "intentional" seems particularly flimsy when the word "willful" stands next to the word "wanton" in the statute. The positioning of these two words provides a clue that "willful" might require some sort of heightened mental state beyond merely "intentional." ¶63 The defendant argues that "willful" disregard of an officer's signal requires more than knowledge or intent to act. "Willful," according to the defendant, requires a heightened intent requirement; it requires a purpose to do wrong without just cause or without a justifiable excuse.10 The defendant urges the that a person's reason for disregarding officer's 9 Wisconsin Stat. § 939.23(3) defines the word "intentional" as used in chapters 939 to 951 (the criminal code) to mean that the "actor either has a purpose to do the thing . . . or is aware that his or her conduct is practically certain to cause that result." The crime at issue is not part of chapters 939 to 951. 10 Brief and Appendix of Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner at 14. The defendant's brief at 15-16 argues: "Willful or wanton disregard, as used in § 346.04(3), unambiguously encompasses not merely the knowing failure to comply with an officer's signal to stop, but a knowing scorn or flouting of the officer's signal with indifference to the results or some type of evil intent beyond the mere failure to comply. In other words, in this Court's language in Preston, []'evil intent without justifiable excuse.'" 5 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa signal makes a difference under the statute and that he had just cause for disregarding the officer's signal. The defendant asserts that his honest concern for his personal safety was just cause or a justifiable excuse, even though the jury determined that his belief in the need for self defense was not objectively reasonable. The defendant testified that Klinkhammer, the law enforcement officer, had already beaten him and he feared that the officer would beat him again or kill him. ¶64 The word "willful" has given courts difficulty over the years and still causes problems for courts.11 frequently viewed as ambiguous. The word is Indeed, in a 1983 case the court characterized "willful" as "pregnant with ambiguity"12 and as "inherently ambiguous."13 necessarily fits all No single definition of "willful" statutes. When a criminal statute is ambiguous, the rule of lenity tells us to interpret the statute in favor of the criminal defendant. See, e.g., State v. Cole, 2003 663 WI 59, ¶13, 262 Wis. 2d 167, N.W.2d 700. In the present case, the rule of lenity would direct that the word "willful" intentional means a disregard heightened of an mental officer's state beyond signal. The merely majority opinion adopts the opposite approach, selecting an undemanding definition of "willful." 11 See generally Rachael Simonoff, Ratzlaf v. United States: The Meaning of "Willful" and the Demands of Due Process, 28 Colum. J.L. & Soc. Probs. 397, 407-09 (1995). 12 DOT v. Transp. N.W.2d 159 (1983). 13 Comm'n, DOT, 111 Wis. 2d at 90. 6 111 Wis. 2d 80, 88-89, 330 No. ¶65 Not only does the majority select 2008AP2759-CR.ssa a definition of "willful" that is problematic given the plain text, the context, and the rule of lenity, but it also selectively chooses precedent and then misapplies its chosen precedent to suggest that the defendant's preferred definition of "willful" is inappropriate. ¶66 is The majority correctly states that the word "willful susceptible of different meanings in different contexts," majority op. ¶21 (quoting State v. Cissell, 127 Wis. 2d 205, 210, 378 appears N.W.2d 691 to (1985)). determine However, incorrectly that the majority Cissell's opinion conclusion (i.e., that "willful" can mean "intentional") applies to all statutes and that Cissell's analysis of "willful" cannot coexist with State v. Preston, 34 Wis. 675 (1874). See majority op., ¶¶22-25, in which the majority treats "precedent since Preston" as rejecting Preston. According to the majority at ¶25, the defendant's definition of "willful" does not "comport[] with our interpretations of willful in other contexts since Preston." The majority errs. ¶67 The only precedent the majority cites for its position that "willful" is the equivalent of "intentional" is Cissell, and that is slim precedent indeed compared to the multitude of earlier cases defining "willful" differently in various contexts. ¶68 The Cissell court carefully defined the issue before it as "whether willful requires proof of a different state of mind than intentional when both 7 terms are used in the two No. criminal statutes under consideration." 211. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Cissell, 127 Wis. 2d at The Cissell court then answered the question with regard to these statutes, stating that although one statute used the word "willfully" and the other "intentionally," the two words in the two statutes (both governing neglecting or failing to support a child) carried the same meaning. ¶69 In contrast to Cissell, the statute at issue in the present case does not use both "willful" and "intentional" as the statutes in the Cissell case did. The application the majority of Cissell to the present case is questionable. ¶70 from Further, Cissell's it is inexplicable determination that how "willful" can leaps mean "intentional" in one statutory context to a conclusion that the defendant's definition of "willful" is incorrect in the context of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). ¶71 Cissell is not, as the majority opinion would have you believe, the seminal case on the definition of "willful." ¶72 Cissell is a sound case. It seems sensible that in certain contexts "willful" means "intentional."14 "Willful" may, however, also mean something other than "intentional," as the Preston court explained long ago. 14 In 1983, the court reaffirmed The legislature has shown, however, that it knows the difference between "willful" and "intentional." See Legislative Council Note to § 11, ch. 257, Laws of 1979 (stating that the revision of the contempt of court statute removed the words "'wilful and intentional' in the definition [of contempt and substituted] . . . the word 'intentional' . . . because the council believe[d] that although conduct must be intentional to constitute contempt, the higher standard of 'wilful' is inappropriate" (emphasis added)). 8 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Preston, declaring that "Preston makes clear that there is no one and certain meaning that can be ascribed to 'wilful' which will in all cases convey its meaning."15 ¶73 Wisconsin case law demonstrates that the majority opinion, ¶25, misstates our precedent when it claims that the defendant's interpretation of willful does not "comport[] with our interpretations of willful in other contexts since Preston." ¶74 Diverse authorities support the notion that the word "willful" has different meanings in different contexts, just as the Cissell and Preston courts declared. an "evil" intent.16 wrongful act.17 15 "Willful" may mean "Willful" may require an intent to do a "Willful" may also mean, as the defendant urges, DOT, 111 Wis. 2d at 87. 16 See, e.g., Bicknese v. Sutula, 2003 WI 31, ¶19, 260 Wis. 2d 713, 660 N.W.2d 289 (holding that an exception to sovereign immunity that refers to "malicious and willful conduct . . . should only apply to ill-intentioned acts, as opposed to all 'intentional' actions"); Brown v. State, 137 Wis. 543, 549, 119 N.W. 338, 340 (1909) (holding that "willfully," "when used to describe acts which shall be punished criminally . . . includes, in addition to mere purpose to do the act, a purpose to do wrong . . . involv[ing] evil intent or legal malice, according to the great weight of authority"); see also 15 Wis. Op. Att'y Gen. 239 (1926) ("'Wilful' includes, in addition to mere purpose to do [the] act, purpose to do wrong, and involves evil intent or legal malice."). 17 See, e.g., Century Shopping Ctr. Fund I v. Crivello, 156 Wis. 2d 227, 238, 456 N.W.2d 858 (Ct. App. 1990) (holding that one who acts willfully "acts volitionally and with intent to accomplish the unlawful result"). 9 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa the purpose to do a wrongful act without just cause or without a justifiable excuse.18 I conclude this latter meaning of "willful" is used in Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3). ¶75 This meaning comports with the statutory history and statutory purpose of Wis. Stat. § 346.04 as a whole. The majority opinion zeroes in on protecting the public from unsafe driving and fostering cooperation with law enforcement and argues that its reading of "willful" will further these goals. But by solely emphasizing this purpose to define "willful," the majority ignores the text and context of the statute and the legislature's creation of a three-tiered structure of fleeing offenses. ¶76 The statutory history the word "willful." supports my interpretation of Wisconsin § 346.04(1), enacted in 1957 Laws The United States Supreme Court has adopted a similar definition of "willful" on at least one occasion. See Ratzlaf v. United States, 510 U.S. 135, 137 (1994) ("To establish that a defendant "willfully violat[ed]" [a] law, the Government must prove that the defendant acted with knowledge that his conduct was unlawful." (emphasis added)). A later statutory revision eliminated the requirement of willful violation. See United States v. Zehrbach, 47 F.3d 1252, 1261 (3d Cir. 1995). See also Black's Law Dictionary 1737 (9th ed. 2009) (noting that it has been said repeatedly that willful means only intentionally or purposely, but that "it has been stated with equal repetition and insistence that the requirement added by such a word is not satisfied unless there is a bad purpose or evil intent"). 18 See First Bank Se., N.A. v. Bentkowski, 138 Wis. 2d 283, 290 & n.2, 405 N.W.2d 764 (1987) (recognizing that "[a]n intentional act is not necessarily a wilful one" and that courts have held that willful "connotes the intentional doing of a harmful or unreasonable act without just cause or excuse"). 10 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa of Wisconsin ch. 260, § 1, set forth a non-criminal forfeiture for the failure to obey "any lawful order, signal or direction from a traffic officer." ¶77 Section 346.04(3), enacted in 1965. a misdemeanor statute, was first See 1965 Laws of Wisconsin ch. 187, §§ 2, 3. This law provided as follows: 346.04(3) No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visual or audible signal from a traffic officer, or marked police vehicle, shall knowingly flee or attempt to elude any traffic officer by wilful or wanton disregard of such signal so as to interfere with or endanger the operation of the police vehicle, or the traffic officer or other vehicles or pedestrians, nor shall he increase the speed of his vehicle or extinguish the lights of his vehicle in an attempt to elude or flee. ¶78 In 1994, the Legislature increased the penalty for a violation felony. of Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) from a misdemeanor to 1993 Laws of Wisconsin, ch. 189, § 1. a This change in penalty was explained by the Wisconsin Criminal Penalties Study Committee Final Report, Part II.D.4.d., at 57 (Aug. 31, 1999), as follows: Until 1994 an act of fleeing that did not result in injury or property damage was a misdemeanor offense. In that year the misdemeanor was elevated to a 2-year felony. Doubtless this occurred because some fleeing episodes, though not resulting in injury or property damage, nonetheless pose great threats to the safety of officers and others and thus deserve felony treatment. ¶79 between Changing Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) to a felony left a gap the Penalties civil Study forfeiture Committee and the recommended felony. the gap The Criminal be filled, observing that "[s]ome episodes are short, don't involve high 11 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa speed, do not seriously compromise public safety." The Criminal Studies Committee concluded that "a misdemeanor fleeing offense should be incorporated into the fleeing statute for use in those cases when the defendant's behavior is appropriately addressed with a conviction other than at the felony level."19 ¶80 The misdemeanor statute, § 346.04(2t), was created in 2001 Wis. Act 109, §§ 443, 445, to read as follows: 346.04(2t) No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visible or audible signal to stop his or her vehicle from a traffic officer or marked police vehicle, shall knowingly resist the traffic officer by failing to stop his or her vehicle as promptly as safety reasonably permits. ¶81 This three-tiered penalty structure civil forfeiture, misdemeanor, and felony shows that the legislature's purpose was not only to protect the public and foster cooperation with law enforcement, but also to achieve those goals while carefully distinguishing offenders. between varying degrees of culpability among The legislature intended to reserve felony charges for the most culpable offenders, that is, for those who flee by willful or wanton disregard of a signal from an officer, and reading "willful" to require more than intentionality serves the purpose of graduated penalty for increasingly serious offenses. My interpretation protecting enforcement the of public without "willful" and ignoring supports fostering the 19 the importance cooperation statutory history of with law and the See State of Wisconsin Criminal Penalties Study Committee Final Report at 57 (Aug. 31, 1999). 12 No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa legislature's creation of a three tiered structure of fleeing offenses. ¶82 The defendant did not have the opportunity to convince the jury that he subjectively, honestly believed that he had just cause to disregard the officer's signal, even though the just cause was not objectively reasonable to support a finding of self-defense. The majority thinks that all that the statute required was that the defendant had the opportunity to convince the jury that self-defense was objectively reasonable. fails I comprehend disagree. ¶83 The majority opinion to the difference between self-defense which has both a subjective and an objective component20 and the element of "willful" in the statute that has only a subjective component. See majority op. ¶29, n.7. ¶84 The opportunity error to standards. here the jury the evidence using context, the consider In this is that controversy from being fully tried. error was not the given proper prevented the an legal real I would therefore reverse the conviction and order a new trial. II ¶85 The majority omits almost entirely the defendant's version of the events in an effort to portray the defendant as bizarre, frightening, and irrational, and the law enforcement officer as cool-headed. I set forth details, including those from the defendant's side of the story, in order to provide a 20 See Wis JI Criminal 800 (2001). 13 No. more complete narrative of what the jury heard.21 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Additionally, I highlight a few differences in the testimony of key witnesses, which undermine to some extent the majority's claim that the testimony of Klinkhammer the and State's Randi key witnesses, Derby, "largely Deputy Sheriff corresponds." Eric See majority op., ¶3 n.4. ¶86 There were three witnesses to begin with -the defendant, Deputy Eric Klinkhammer, a law enforcement officer, and Randi Derby, an intern ride-along. As the majority notes, Klinkhammer did not initiate the traffic stop by activating his lights. Rather, he pulled next to the defendant's vehicle and motioned with his hand for the defendant to pull over. The defendant testified that Klinkhammer drove beside him for about three minutes before "forcefully" over, which he did immediately. gesturing for him to pull Klinkhammer testified that he activated his lights as he pulled behind the defendant and the defendant began to pull over. The defendant, however, testified that he was stopped only by the deputy's hand motion. ¶87 After both vehicles came to a complete stop, the defendant exited his vehicle with his driver's license in hand. Klinkhammer indicated that he used a PA microphone to tell the defendant three times to get back in his car, to no avail. Derby's initial statement did not refer to use of a PA system. At trial, however, she testified that Klinkhammer used the PA and that perhaps the defendant did not hear the PA because of 21 Some of the narrative is taken defendant's opening brief to this court. 14 verbatim from the No. the traffic. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa The defendant testified that Klinkhammer did not use a PA system. ¶88 All agreed that Klinkhammer then exited the squad car and approached the defendant, telling him to get back into his car. The defendant testified that it was Klinkhammer who was immediately "screaming at the top of his lungs. . . . 'Get back in the car,' defendant license really said and he the loudly was just deputy and very trying started Klinkhammer extended his baton. frighteningly." The give his to "screaming Klinkhammer bloody murder." The defendant said that the situation was disorienting and confusing. He thought it was unusual that he was stopped with a hand motion and not lights. ¶89 Derby testified that although she could not hear anything, Klinkhammer was gesturing "get back in your car" and the defendant appeared angry and seemed to be saying "just take [my] driver's license." She did not describe the defendant as acting bizarrely. ¶90 The defendant stated that he did not believe he looked like a threat. hands in He had his driver's license in his hand, both plain view and was dressed professionally. The defendant testified that he could not remember how many times he was told to get into his vehicle but that as soon as he realized that the deputy would not take his license and was angry, he got back in his car. ¶91 Derby testified that while Klinkhammer was walking back to the squad car with the license, the defendant exited his vehicle a second time. Klinkhammer 15 originally testified to No. these same facts. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa Later, however, he admitted that it was not until he had entered his squad car and had begun writing the ticket that the defendant exited his vehicle the second time. ¶92 The defendant testified that while he wished he had not, he did exit a second time to ask why he was pulled over and other basic questions. The deputy then immediately started screaming again at the top of his lungs, "Get back in the car." The defendant said they did have a brief conversation in which Klinkhammer claimed the defendant had been speeding, although the defendant believed he had been driving only a little over 65 and slower than several cars that had passed him. Klinkhammer again displayed the baton and the defendant started back to his car. The defendant testified that Klinkhammer did not at that point tell him he was under arrest. ¶93 All agreed that as the defendant approached his car, Klinkhammer pursued him and grabbed the defendant's shoulder. The defendant's shirt was ripped as he attempted to get in his car and Klinkhammer grabbed him. ¶94 following The the defendant deputy's further testified direction to that return as to he his was car, Klinkhammer grabbed him and struck him in the back of the head with the baton. ¶95 Once in his car, the defendant testified that he was really frightened and immediately called 911. He testified that he carefully drove away and began asking the 911 operator for directions to the nearest police station because he wanted to turn himself in to someone other 16 than Klinkhammer, whom the No. 2008AP2759-CR.ssa defendant believed was a threat to his physical safety. The 911 operator urged the defendant to pull over and told him that he was creating a dangerous situation. Eventually the 911 operator started directing the defendant to a police station. ¶96 There are conflicting statements defendant's driving after exiting I-94. regarding the Klinkhammer testified for the first time on redirect that the defendant endangered a vehicle as testified he that exited the the interstate defendant "drove at Highway 50. Derby his vehicle between two vehicles trying to maneuver through traffic" at the end of the off ramp. In contrast, Klinkhammer observed no such maneuvers at the end of the ramp. ¶97 Derby testified that the defendant would have struck a second squad car parked at the bottom of the off ramp if the defendant had not stopped, but he did and then went around it. On cross-examination, Derby admitted that her initial written statement noted that the defendant stopped at the bottom of the off ramp for 'a minute, then drove around the squad car.' Both Klinkhammer and the defendant also testified that the defendant stopped at the bottom of the ramp. ¶98 Deputy Sturino, who drove a second squad car, then testified that the next intersection was so clogged with traffic that the defendant had to stop. However, he also claimed that he stopped the defendant short of the intersection by pulling his squad in front of the defendant's vehicle. Conversely, Klinkhammer and the defendant testified that the defendant was the first person in line at the next stoplight. 17 No. ¶99 2008AP2759-CR.ssa As the defendant was stopped at the second red light, the law enforcement officers surrounded his vehicle and exited their squad cars with guns drawn. the phone with 911 at the time. The defendant was still on Although the officers claimed that they ordered the defendant out of his car several times and warned him that they would break his window if he did not comply, the 911 tape does not pick up any commands from the officers prior to Klinkhammer breaking the defendant's car window with his baton and pulling him from the vehicle. * * * * ¶100 As I noted at the outset, the majority presents a skewed version of the facts in what seems like a subtle attempt to make its legal reasoning more persuasive. I try to present the defendant's side of the story so readers are aware of what the jury actually heard. Although the jury was not persuaded by the defendant's claim of self-defense, his version of the facts could support his claim that he had an honest, subjective belief that concern for his personal safety was just cause for his flight to the police station, and that his "willful" disregard of the officer's signal. conduct was not The jury might believe the defendant or might conclude the defendant was hoping to game the system. Had the jury been properly instructed, it could have made this decision. ¶101 Because decide the the appropriate jury was legal not issues dissent. 18 given in an the opportunity present case, to I No. 1 2008AP2759-CR.ssa
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