Opinion ID: 6321818
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Palmer's Convictions

Text: ¶2 In 2013, Palmer was convicted for committing eight crimes of domestic violence against his live-in girlfriend, L.R. According to the criminal complaint, the incident began on the morning of October 24, 2012, when Palmer and L.R. were arguing amidst a break-up and Palmer initially refused to leave their residence. When Palmer eventually left for work, he called L.R. multiple times but she did not answer. Approximately 30 minutes after leaving, Palmer returned to the residence and began yelling at L.R. She tried to get away from Palmer by going into the bedroom but Palmer followed her. Palmer then broke L.R.'s cellphone by throwing it against a window. L.R. tried to escape from the room but Palmer pushed her onto the bed with such force that she bounced off and hit her head on the floor. When L.R. started screaming in hopes that someone would hear her and call the police, Palmer grabbed her mouth and squeezed it real hard. 1 While this case was being litigated, Wis. Stat. § 111.335(1)(c)1. (2015-16) was renumbered to Wis. Stat. § 111.335(3)(a)1. (2017-18). In this and all subsequent references to the Wisconsin Statutes we will refer to the 2017-18 version unless otherwise indicated. 2 No. 2019AP1671 Then Palmer allowed L.R. to get up, but as she tried to reach the door handle to escape, Palmer threw her on the bed, straddled her, and placed his hand over her mouth and nose, stopping her from breathing for about 30 seconds. Then Palmer started to cry, told L.R. that he loved her, and let her up from the bed. L.R. went into the bathroom to get ready for work and Palmer followed her and put his hand down the front of her pants. L.R. told Palmer to stop, but Palmer pulled L.R. to the bed and sexually assaulted her by engaging in sexual intercourse without her consent. Palmer again left the residence and L.R. contacted the police. L.R. additionally reported that Palmer had engaged in other acts of violence, including forced sexual intercourse, during their fourmonth relationship. ¶3 As a result of the incident, Palmer pleaded no contest to two counts of felony strangulation and suffocation, four counts of misdemeanor battery, one count of fourth degree sexual assault, and one count of criminal damage to property.2 The circuit court also dismissed and read in two counts of false imprisonment and one count of threats to injure or accuse of a crime.3 The circuit court sentenced Palmer to 30 months in prison, 30 months of extended supervision, four years of probation, and ordered him to 2 Wis. Stat. § 940.235(1) (2011-12), Wis. Stat. § 940.19(1) (2011-12), Wis. Stat. § 940.225(3m) (2011-12), and Wis. Stat. § 943.01(1) (2011-12), respectively. 3 A read-in crime is one that either is not charged or is dismissed as part of a plea agreement that the defendant agrees the circuit court may consider at sentencing, along with the underlying conduct. See Wis. Stat. § 973.20(1g)(b). 3 No. 2019AP1671 register as a sex offender. Palmer also has a 2001 battery conviction related to domestic violence.4