State v. Leist

Don Leist appeals from a judgment of conviction on multiple counts of criminal slander of title, contrary to sec. 943.60(1), Stats., and from an order denying his post-conviction motion for relief. Leist was prosecuted because he filed a series of documents entitled "Declaration of Land Patent” with the Manitowoc County Register of Deeds. Leist argues that the trial court’s instruction to the jury that the documents are frivolous as a matter of law improperly relieved the state of its burden of proof and improperly directed a verdict against him on the element of frivolousness. This, Leist…