Wisconsin Stalking Laws

Stalking is taken seriously by the Wisconsin law enforcement and legal system. Generally, the alleged victim’s word is taken at face value, while the accused is automatically assumed to be guilty; however, that is not how our courts are supposed to work. If you have recently been charged with stalking, it’s important to retain an attorney who has the experience to both fight your charges and protect your reputation.

Stalking Charges

Stalking is defined as conduct directed towards the victim on two separate occasions, during which—on one occasion—the accused stalker became aware that the actions were unwelcome. Actions that could be classified as stalking include watching the victim, speaking to the victim, visiting the victim’s place of employment, calling the victim, recording the victim, speaking to the victim’s friends, families or coworkers, and sending the victim flowers or other gifts.

In addition to establishing the actions above, the prosecution must show that the victim felt harassed, threatened and intimidated or that he or she was afraid of bodily injury or death.

In many cases, stalking is classified as a Class I felony. The sentence for this offense could include years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000. If the defendant has a prior violent criminal record or caused injury to the victim, he or she could be charged with a Class H or Class F felony, punishable by up to 12 1/2 years in jail and/or fines of up to $25,000.

Proactive Criminal Defense

The legal team at Tracey Wood & Associates are well-versed in Wisconsin’s criminal statutes, and understand all of the elements that must be proven by the prosecution in a stalking case. The vast majority of our clients charged with stalking are not convicted of any felony charges. Our attorneys can put their years of experience and training behind your defense to mitigate the impact that a criminal charge has on your life.

For more information on your pending charges, please reach out via our online form now to schedule an evaluation.