ATTORNEY GENERAL VAN HOLLEN ANNOUNCES FILING OF APPELLATE BRIEF IN APPEAL INVOLVING MURDER OF DCI AGENT

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the State of Wisconsin has filed its appellate brief-in-chief in State of Wisconsin v. Anthony Bolden, an appeal taken by Bolden from his February 2006 Milwaukee County convictions for felony murder, two armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery.

Bolden's felony murder conviction stemmed from the October 29, 2004, slaying of Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) - Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Special Agent John Balchunas. Bolden has argued in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals that the robbery charges were improperly joined with the felony murder charge for a single trial.

"We believe the charges were properly joined for trial, and we've presented that argument to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals," Van Hollen said. "My office is committed to protecting the people of Wisconsin and those who risk their lives to protect the people of Wisconsin from violent offenders."

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals is expected to decide the appeal between now and the end of the year. The State is represented on appeal by Assistant Attorney General Juan Colas of the DOJ Criminal Appeals Unit.