Strangulation Attorneys Glendale-Whitefish Bay office near Bayshore Mall

What will happen to me if I strangle my significant other in Grafton or River Hills? How do I beat a charge if I am falsely accused of strangling someone? Just like false imprisonment, strangulation is a class H felony. A class H felony comes with maximum possible penalties of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine or both. However, if you have been previously convicted of strangulation or another violent crime, this can be increased to a class G felony, which makes the maximum possible penalties 10 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. It is very important to note that these types of cases are taken incredibly seriously. Strangulation is seen as one of the more violent domestic violence types of charges in the state of Wisconsin. Because of the nationwide push for stronger penalties in domestic cases, most states have come around to considering strangulation of felony. For example, in Minnesota, strangulation has only been a felony for the last few years. It has been a felony for much longer in the State of Wisconsin.

Under the law, you can be convicted of strangulation if you impede the normal breathing or circulation of blood in a person by applying pressure to the throat or neck. You can also be charged if you block the nose or mouth of another person, which would also impede their breathing. Keep in mind that a felony that is this serious also is going to require the intent to impede somebody's ability to breathe. The definition of intent means that you had the mental purpose to commit this crime. 

It is important to note that most strangulation cases are involved in domestic incidents, and therefore will come with a domestic violence enhancer as well as probably a bunch of other charges. At a minimum, you could also be looking at disorderly conduct charges with a domestic violence enhancer, as well as the possibility of battery with the domestic violence enhancer, especially if you leave bruising. All three of these different counts can come with the domestic violence enhancer, which adds fines for the penalties as well as the inability to possess a firearm for the rest of your life if convicted. 

In the case of strangulation, it is not required that the person becomes unconscious or passed out. Even if there is a grab at the person's neck and they are unable to breathe for a very little period of time, you could be charged with strangulation. How did the police know that something like this happened? A lot of times the police will ask the victim in the case whether the aggressor put their hands around the person’s neck and then whether they had any trouble breathing when this occurred. They will also look for the opportunity to take photos of any bruising or red marks around the neck. As a note, it is not required that there be any marks of strangulation on the person’s body. Sometimes people are not necessarily strong enough to create bruising around somebody's neck, but they can still impede somebody's ability to breathe by grabbing their neck, which would then result in those charges for strangulation.