In order to be found guilty of Intimidation of a Witness or Victim, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knowingly or attempted to prevent or persuade a witness or victim from either attending or giving testimony at trial or another legal proceeding.
In Wisconsin, Intimidation of a Witness or Victim is a Class A Misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of up to 9 months and/or $10,000.00 fine; however, this offense can be charged as a Class G Felony, with a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a $25,000.00 fine, if your act includes additional factors, such as the use or threat of use of violence or threats.
There are a number of defenses to the charge of Intimidation of a Witness or Victim. One potential defense is that you did not have reason to believe that the person would be a witness at the time a comment was made. Another potential defense is that what you stated does not show that you actually intended to prevent another witness from attending a legal proceeding. Each defense depends entirely on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. Please contact an attorney at our firm for a consultation and we look forward to discussing your case in further detail.
