COURT OF APPEALS

DECISION

DATED AND FILED

July 31, 2024

Samuel A. Christensen

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. 2023AP862-CR Cir. Ct. No. 2021CF860

STATE OF WISCONSIN IN COURT OF APPEALS

DISTRICT II

STATE OF WISCONSIN,

 PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,

 V.

KYLE T. BRAUN,

 DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

APPEAL from a judgment of the circuit court for Waukesha County: 

JENNIFER R. DOROW, Judge. Affirmed. 

Before Gundrum, P.J., Neubauer and Grogan, JJ.

Per curiam opinions may not be cited in any court of this state as precedent 

or authority, except for the limited purposes specified in WIS. STAT. RULE 809.23(3). 
No. 2023AP862-CR

2

¶1 PER CURIAM. Kyle T. Braun appeals from a judgment of 

conviction entered after he pled guilty to one count of operating while intoxicated 

(OWI), fourth offense, in violation of WIS. STAT. § 346.63(1)(a) (2021-22).

1

 

Braun contends that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to collaterally 

attack his second OWI conviction so that it would not be factored into his 

sentence. In the motion, Braun argued that his second conviction, which also 

rested on a guilty plea, was invalid because he did not knowingly, intelligently, 

and voluntarily waive his right to counsel before he pled guilty. Because Braun 

was unable to produce a transcript of the plea hearing for his second conviction or

present other evidence sufficient to establish what occurred at the hearing, we 

agree with the circuit court that Braun failed to show that his second conviction 

was obtained in violation of his right to counsel. Accordingly, we affirm.

¶2 In August 2021, the State charged Braun with OWI, fourth offense,

and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, fourth offense.2 As Braun 

had three prior OWIs, a fourth OWI conviction would constitute a Class H Felony

under Wisconsin’s escalating penalty scheme for repeat OWIs. See WIS. STAT.

§ 346.65(2)(am)4. Braun moved to collaterally attack and preclude the use of his 

second OWI conviction in sentencing. He argued his second conviction, which 

occurred in April 2002, was constitutionally invalid because he did not give a 

knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel at his plea 

hearing. In support of his motion, Braun averred in an affidavit that no colloquy 

 

1

 All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2021-22 version unless otherwise 

noted.

2

 The State also charged Braun with OWI causing injury as a second or subsequent 

offense and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration causing injury as a second or 

subsequent offense. Those charges are not involved in this appeal.
No. 2023AP862-CR

3

about his right to counsel took place at the hearing, contrary to the requirements of 

State v. Klessig, 211 Wis. 2d 194, 206, 564 N.W.2d 716 (1997). Braun also 

averred that he had been generally unaware of his right to counsel during his 

hearing. 

¶3 Due to the passage of time since Braun’s second conviction, no 

transcript of the plea hearing was available. Thus, Braun’s motion rested on his 

own recollection of the hearing and a screenshot of a CCAP record related to the 

plea hearing. But when testifying at the motion hearing, Braun struggled to 

establish a clear recollection of events. While Braun had averred in his affidavit 

that no colloquy about his right to counsel took place, he acknowledged on the 

stand that he did not recall whether or not he was asked about waiving the right to 

counsel, that it was possible that such a colloquy took place, and that he might 

have simply forgotten it happened. Braun acknowledged that he “[p]robably” 

received a copy of the criminal complaint in that case. He testified further that he 

was “sure” the circuit court had explained the minimum and maximum penalties, 

but could not recall what they were. Braun also testified that he had been 

represented in connection with his first OWI conviction and that from that 

experience he knew he had a right to an attorney at the second plea hearing. 

¶4 The only other evidence of what happened at the 2002 plea hearing 

consisted of a screenshot of a CCAP record of the hearing, which displayed court 

notes stating in part: “Def given complaint, advised of charges, penalties and 

rights,” and “Def. waives counsel.” The State produced a copy of the criminal 

complaint, but of course its contents did not shed light on whether a plea colloquy 

occurred. 
No. 2023AP862-CR

4

¶5 The circuit court denied Braun’s motion. The court explained that 

under State v. Clark, 2022 WI 21, ¶18, 401 Wis. 2d 344, 972 N.W.2d 533, the 

absence of the plea hearing transcript meant that Braun retained the burden to 

establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that no knowing, voluntary, or 

intelligent waiver of his right to counsel took place. The court reasoned that 

Braun failed to meet this burden because he “was not able to say with any 

specificity that—what the [court at the plea hearing] said or didn’t say. He just, 

frankly, wasn’t sure.” The court observed that Braun was “guessing at times or, 

kind of, filling in the information” and that “he does not have a very good memory 

of what went on ....” Because Braun’s testimony “was vague, was unclear, and 

was not specific enough as to what colloquy was done or not done,” the court 

concluded that Braun had failed to produce clear and convincing evidence and 

denied his motion. Braun subsequently pled guilty to OWI and was sentenced as a 

four-time offender under WIS. STAT. § 346.65(2)(g)1. 

¶6 “We review de novo ‘[w]hether a defendant knowingly, 

intelligently, and voluntarily waived his Sixth Amendment right to counsel.’” 

State v. Gracia, 2013 WI 15, ¶11, 345 Wis. 2d 488, 826 N.W.2d 87 (alteration in 

original; quoting State v. Ernst, 2005 WI 107, ¶10, 283 Wis. 2d 300, 699 N.W.2d 

92). In doing so, “we apply constitutional principles to the facts of the case.” 

Gracia, 345 Wis. 2d 488, ¶11. This court will uphold the circuit court’s findings 

of fact unless they are “against the great weight and clear preponderance of the 

evidence.” Phelps v. Physicians Ins. Co. of Wis., 2009 WI 74, ¶39, 319 Wis. 2d 

1, 768 N.W.2d 615 (citation omitted).

¶7 A defendant may collaterally attack prior OWI convictions where 

“the defendant was not represented and did not knowingly, intelligently, and 

voluntarily waive the right to counsel.” Clark, 401 Wis. 2d 344, ¶10. To help 
No. 2023AP862-CR

5

secure a valid waiver, circuit courts must conduct a colloquy that ensures the 

defendant: (1) deliberately chooses to proceed without counsel; (2) is “aware of 

the difficulties and disadvantages of self-representation”; (3) is “aware of the 

seriousness of the charge or charges against him”; and (4) is “aware of the general 

range of [potential] penalties.” Klessig, 211 Wis. 2d at 206. The absence of a 

Klessig colloquy does not automatically invalidate a prior conviction but may 

“serve as the basis for a collateral attack.” Clark, 401 Wis. 2d 344, ¶17.

¶8 A defendant wishing to collaterally attack a prior conviction has the 

burden of proof and “‘must prove manifest injustice by clear and convincing 

evidence.’” Id., ¶13 (quoting State v. Negrete, 2012 WI 92, ¶29, 343 Wis. 2d 1, 

819 N.W.2d 749). If a defendant can point to a defective colloquy in the plea 

hearing transcript, the burden shifts to the State to prove that the defendant made a 

knowing, voluntary, and intelligent waiver of their right to counsel. Clark, 401 

Wis. 2d 344, ¶14. But if the transcript is missing or destroyed, this 

“burden-shifting procedure does not apply” and the burden of proof remains on the 

defendant. Id., ¶20.

¶9 On appeal, Braun acknowledges that Clark assigns him the burden 

to show a constitutional violation. He argues that “the record, or lack thereof, in 

tandem with his affidavit and his testimony from the motion hearing, satisfy his 

burden ....” But what Braun fails to acknowledge is that Clark assigns him the 

burden to establish the absence of a valid waiver through clear and convincing 

evidence. Braun’s argument fails because the evidence he proffers cannot provide 

the clarity and specificity that Clark requires. When testifying, Braun could not 

recall in sufficient detail what was said to him at his plea hearing. In his brief, 

Braun acknowledges that he had no clear memory of his plea hearing’s events. 

The CCAP record is of no help either: it summarizes the plea hearing’s events but 
No. 2023AP862-CR

6

does not state whether a colloquy took place. And finally, the criminal complaint 

in Braun’s second OWI case contains no information about the plea hearing.

Because neither the record nor Braun’s testimony can show with sufficient clarity 

or specificity what was said at the plea hearing, Braun has not proved that his 

second OWI conviction was obtained in violation of his right to counsel.

By the Court.—Judgment affirmed.

This opinion will not be published. See WIS. STAT.

RULE 809.23(1)(b)5.