Sheboygan man pleads no contest on four counts, trial still far from over
There's a reason why law books are as thick as door stops and prospective lawyers must go through years of school and paralegal work before they can begin practicing. Oftentimes, legal proceedings, regardless of how simple the allegations are, can be long and complicated ordeals, full of depositions, hearings, trials and transcripts. A recent case in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin is an example of how a simple allegation can become confounded.
Dennis Petrie has pleaded no contest to four out of 42 criminal counts he's facing, reports the Sheboygan Press. These charges are alleging that Petrie has, for the past several months, used obituaries and estate sale listings to burglarize homes of recently deceased Wisconsin residents.
Petrie was arrested back in March when he was caught allegedly robbing the home of a man that was vacationing out of state at the time, reports the source. After this, authorities found multiple items on his property that were reported stolen by the families of deceased individuals.
Petrie's party is currently claiming that authorities illegally seized the allegedly stolen items from Petrie's house without a search warrant. But, Judge Timothy Van Akkeren is denying that motion, citing that Petrie's wife gave officers permission to search the property without coercion.
While Petrie may have pleaded guilty to a few counts, there are still 38 left for lawyers to quarrel over. In addition, many of the professionals close to the case do not believe it is anywhere near over. By partnering with experienced realtime court reporters, lawyers and judges can access the most accurate transcripts of trials and hearings, allowing for a more efficient trial.
