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An unusual bet on a Packers game led to serious criminal charges

On Behalf of | Nov 14, 2013 | Criminal Defense

Football season is a serious commitment for Wisconsinites. Most of us never miss a Packers game or a chance to engage in spirited debates with others around the country who may have loyalties to different teams.

Needless to say, things can get heated when the Packers take on their longstanding rivals, as they did earlier this month when they narrowly lost to the Chicago Bears. But these rivalries can become a little too heated for certain fans, and criminal charges are sometimes the unfortunate result.

According to news sources, a Packers-Bears rivalry between a husband and wife resulted in accusations of domestic violence and weapons charges. Prior to the game on November 4, the couple made an unusual bet. The husband cheered for the Bears and the wife was a Packers fan, and it was agreed that the spouse with the losing team would be shocked with a stun gun.

The two had watched the game at a bar in Mayville, and sure enough, the Packers were defeated. For reasons that weren’t made clear in news reports, the man was apparently angry after the game despite the fact that his team had won. He reportedly grabbed the stun gun out of their shared vehicle and shocked his wife three times – once on the thigh and twice on the butt.

The woman told police that although she had made the bet with her husband, she didn’t think he would actually use the weapon on her. She filled out what’s known as a “no consent” form. However, officers later considered the form to be void after the husband showed evidence of text messages sent by the woman and a cellphone video of her allegedly consenting to the terms of the bet.

Under other circumstances, that may have been the end of police involvement. However, in Wisconsin, one must have a conceal and carry permit to legally be in possession of a stun gun. The man did not have a permit (from Wisconsin or any other state). As such, he was arrested and charged with use of an electric weapon; which carries a maximum sentence of 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

The moral of this story is simple but important: don’t let your passion for the Packers inspire you to do something you might regret later. And if you just have to bet, you should probably avoid setting terms that are likely to attract police attention.

Source: Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, “Man uses stun gun on wife after bet on Packers game,” Megan Sheridan, Nov. 5, 2013

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