Opinion ID: 1277158
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Maximum Potential Sentence

Text: ¶ 78 Brown also claims that the circuit court violated Wis. Stat. § 971.08(1) by failing to state that the punishment for each charge could run consecutively. The circuit court stated that each charge was a Class B felony and that it could impose a 60-year sentence for each charge. We find it difficult to accept Brown's suggestion that failure to inform a defendant who is facing multiple charges that the sentence imposed on each charge could be consecutive (that is, the total sentence could add up to more than 60 years), would render a defendant's plea not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. The reasonable conclusion when a defendant is confronted with multiple charges is that the defendant could face multiple punishments. That realization is a major explanation for plea bargains that reduce the number of charges. Although the better practice is to advise a defendant of the cumulative maximum sentence he could receive from consecutive sentences, we do not believe the omission of such information should allow a defendant to withdraw a guilty plea in the absence of any allegation that the defendant did not understand the effect of multiple charges on his sentence. Failure to understand this simple concept would signal more serious problems with the plea. Even if we found error in the omission, it would be harmless on these facts because Brown's total sentence did not reach the maximum on even one of the Class B felonies.