2007 WI App 155

court of appeals of wisconsin

published opinion

 


 

Case No.:

2006AP2076-CR

 

Complete Title of Case:

 


 

 

State of Wisconsin,

 

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

 

     v.

 

Brian N. Jacobs,

 

          Defendant-Appellant.

 

 

 


 

Opinion Filed:

May 1, 2007

Submitted on Briefs: 

April 3, 2007

 

 

 

 

JUDGES:

Cane, C.J., Hoover, P.J., and Peterson, J.

           

 

           

 

 

 

Appellant

 

ATTORNEYS:

On behalf of the defendant-appellant, the cause was submitted on the briefs of Joan M. Boyd of Shawano. 

 

 

Respondent

 

ATTORNEYS:

On behalf of the plaintiff-respondent, the cause was submitted on the brief of Maura FJ Whelan, assistant attorney general, and J.B. Van Hollen, attorney general. 

 

 

 

 


2007 WI App 155


 


COURT OF APPEALS

DECISION

DATED AND FILED

 

May 1, 2007

 

David R. Schanker

Clerk of Court of Appeals

 

 

 

NOTICE

 

 

This opinion is subject to further editing.  If published, the official version will appear in the bound volume of the Official Reports. 

 

A party may file with the Supreme Court a petition to review an adverse decision by the Court of Appeals.  See Wis. Stat. § 808.10 and Rule 809.62. 

 

 

 

 

Appeal No. 

2006AP2076-CR

Cir. Ct. No.  2004CF290

STATE OF WISCONSIN   

IN COURT OF APPEALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

State of Wisconsin,

 

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

 

     v.

 

Brian N. Jacobs,

 

          Defendant-Appellant.

 

 

 

 

            APPEAL from a judgment and an order of the circuit court for Shawano County:  THOMAS G. GROVER, Judge.  Affirmed. 

            Before Cane, C.J., Hoover, P.J., and Peterson, J. 

1        HOOVER, P.J.   Brian Jacobs appeals a judgment of conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm contrary to Wis. Stat. § 941.29 (2005-06) and an order denying his motion to dismiss.  Jacobs was arrested after officer Joseph Miller observed him hunting with a “black powder or muzzle loading firearm” on the reservation of the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe to which Jacobs belongs. 

2        Jacobs moved to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.  He asserted he was exercising his tribal hunting rights, protected by treaty and exempt from State regulation.  The court concluded the State was enforcing its criminal laws, not regulating hunting, and denied the motion.  Jacobs then pled no contest to the charge and was fined $365.

3        Whether the court had jurisdiction is a question of law we review de novo.  See State v. Burgess, 2003 WI 71, ¶8, 262 Wis. 2d 354, 665 N.W.2d 124.  Here, Jacobs concedes that 18 U.S.C. § 1162(a) (2006), gives the State “jurisdiction over [criminal] offenses committed by … Indians ” on all “Indian country” within the state.  He asserts, however, that Wis. Stat. § 941.29 contradicts 18 U.S.C. § 1162(b), which prohibits the State from “depriv[ing] any Indian … of any right, privilege, or immunity afforded under Federal treaty….”  He claims the right to hunt is protected by an 1856 treaty between the United States and his tribe.

4        Wisconsin Stat. § 941.29 is not specifically a hunting restriction or regulation but, rather, a generally applicable, neutral criminal statute.  Thus, application of § 941.29 does not, in and of itself, make Jacobs’ exercise of treaty hunting rights illegal.  Rather, Jacobs’ own actions in committing a felony have limited him from fully enjoying those rights.  See United States v. Three Winchester 30-30 Caliber Level Action Carbines, 504 F.2d 1288, 1292 (7th Cir. 1974).  The effect that § 941.29 has on Jacobs’ ability to possess a weapon is an incidental result of his own conduct.  See United States v. Gallaher, 275 F.3d 784, 789 (9th Cir. 2001).  The circuit court had jurisdiction.[1]

            By the Court.—Judgment and order affirmed.

                       

 

 

 

 

 


 

 



[1]  To the extent Jacobs raises additional arguments for the first time in his reply brief, we decline to consider them.  Northwest Wholesale Lumber, Inc. v. Anderson, 191 Wis. 2d 278, 294 n.11, 528 N.W.2d 502 (Ct. App. 1995).