WASHBURN COUNTY -- An arrest warrant has been issued for a 17-year-old man who failed to appear in Washburn County Circuit Court on July 24, 2017, regarding charges of Felony Substantial Battery, Intent to Cause Bodily Harm after the man allegedly broke his father's nose by punching him in the face after arguing with his father about his alcohol consumption.
A criminal complaint has been filed against Jesse Dahl, Jr., of Hayward, WI, 17 years old, charging him with Class I Felony Substantial Domestic Battery and Misdemeanor Domestic Disorderly Conduct following an incident in which he reportedly punched his father multiple times in the face, ultimately breaking his father's nose.
On June 30, 2017, Washburn County Dispatch received a report of a man walking along County Highway E, near Beaver Lake Road. The caller reported that the man was covered in blood.
When deputies made contact with the man, he reported that his son, Jesse Dahl, Jr., had been at his residence and had been drinking alcohol. When the man attempted to take the alcohol away from Dahl, Jr, Dahl, Jr. became upset and reportedly struck the man approximately 5 times in the face, at least once with a closed fist.
Deputies observed that the man was bleeding profusely from the bridge of his nose and that his clothes were covered in blood. The man was transported to Hayward Hospital for medical care.
Upon arriving at the residence where the reported incident occurred, deputies saw 2 large puddles of blood on the basement floor and a trail of blood leading out through the back door, into the backyard and up the outdoor steps.
Dahl, Jr. was located at the residence and placed in handcuffs. The criminal complaint states that when deputies asked Dahl, Jr. about the blood on his hand, he stated that he was fine and that the blood was the result of him hitting his father. Dahl, Jr. reportedly also told law enforcement that he had been consuming alcohol.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that the doctor who treated the victim advised law enforcement that Dahl, Jr.s victim sustained fractures in his nose with a cut on the bridge of his nose that required adhesive glue to seal it shut.
Dahl was scheduled to appear in Washburn County Circuit Court on July 24, 2017, for an Initial Appearance on his criminal charges. Public record indicates that he did not appear and that the Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
DrydenWire.com reached out to our legal eagle, area attorney Joseph Schieffer, for insight on this type of case.
Given the wide array of domestic relationships, Wisconsin laws define the type of relationship in which domestic abuse (in the legal sense) can occur. In Wisconsin, domestic abuse can be engaged in by an adult person against his or her spouse or former spouse, against an adult with whom the person resides or formerly resided or against an adult with whom the person has a child in common. Wis. Stat. 968.075(1)(a). From the definition, it is possible that even a roommate that engages in prohibited conduct with another roommate could be charged with domestic abuse. Prohibited conduct is also defined statutorily. One can be charged with domestic abuse if the above domestic relationship is in existence and the individual intentionally inflicts physical pain, physical injury or illness; intentionally impairs physical condition; commits 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-degree sexual assault; or a causes the person to reasonably fear imminent engagement in the aforementioned. Wis. Stat 968.075(1)(a)1-4.
Domestic offenses are also unique in that if an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is committing or has committed domestic abuse and that the person’s actions constitute the commission of a crime and has a reasonable basis for believing that continued domestic abuse against the alleged victim is likely, the officer “shall arrest and take a person into custody.” Wis. Stat. 968.075(2)(a) While the decision to arrest is generally at an officer’s discretion, in the case of domestic situations the arrest becomes mandatory if the above is met.
Anyone with information on Jesse Dahl, Jr's whereabouts can contact the Washburn County Sheriff's Office at 715-468-4700.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
About Attorney Joseph Schieffer: Joseph has formerly prosecuted cases in Barron & Washington counties in Wisconsin. Currently, he is a solo practitioner in Cumberland, Wisconsin specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation in Barron, Washburn, Rusk, Burnett, Sawyer, and surrounding counties. He can be reached at joseph@schiefferlaw.com with questions or comments
Last Update: Jul 28, 2017 2:11 pm CDT
