State v. Beasley

This is the State of Wisconsin's appeal in a jail escape case. Ronald Lee Beasley was serving sentences in the Racine county jail for operating after revocation as a habitual offender (two counts), and *99for operating while intoxicated, fourth offense. He escaped from jail. The state charged Beasley with felony escape under sec. 946.42(3)(a), Stats. The trial court reasoned that the offenses for which Beasley was jailed were "statutory traffic regulations" and concluded that the escape charge must be a misdemeanor. We hold that Beasley was convicted of "crimes" and that persons convicted of…