State v. Orlando Pierre Eaton

COURT OF APPEALS
DECISION NOTICE
DATED AND FILED This opinion is subject to further editing. If
published, the official version will appear in
the bound volume of the Official Reports.
January 30, 2024
A party may file with the Supreme Court a
Samuel A. Christensen petition to review an adverse decision by the
Clerk of Court of Appeals Court of Appeals. See WIS. STAT. § 808.10
and RULE 809.62.

Appeal No. 2022AP936-CR Cir. Ct. No. 2019CF83

STATE OF WISCONSIN IN COURT OF APPEALS
DISTRICT III

STATE OF WISCONSIN,

PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,

V.

ORLANDO PIERRE EATON,

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

APPEAL from a judgment and an order of the circuit court for
Pierce County: ELIZABETH L. ROHL, Judge. Affirmed.

Before Stark, P.J., Hruz and Gill, JJ.

Per curiam opinions may not be cited in any court of this state as precedent

or authority, except for the limited purposes specified in WIS. STAT. RULE 809.23(3).

¶1 PER CURIAM. Orlando Eaton appeals a judgment convicting him
of first-degree reckless homicide by delivery of a controlled substance as a party
No. 2022AP936-CR

to the crime. Eaton also appeals an order denying his motion for postconviction
relief. Eaton argues that the circuit court erred by denying his postconviction
motion without holding an evidentiary hearing because his motion alleged
sufficient facts that entitled him to a hearing on his claims for ineffective
assistance of counsel, newly discovered evidence, and sufficiency of the evidence.
We reject Eaton’s argument and affirm.

BACKGROUND

¶2 According to the amended criminal complaint, on May 10, 2017, law
enforcement responded to a reported overdose death at a residence in River Falls,
Wisconsin. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the body of Pearson in a
basement bedroom.1 Upon a search of Pearson’s body, River Falls Police
Investigator Ryan Miller discovered a gem pack near Pearson’s head.2 The gem
pack contained a grayish-white substance that was later confirmed to be heroin.
An autopsy determined that a mixed drug toxicity of heroin and amphetamine
caused Pearson’s death.

¶3 During his investigation, Miller discovered that Pearson was with
Dante Ackerman on the night of May 9, 2017. While gathering information on
Ackerman, including his cell phone number, Miller received information about
two heroin dealers in St. Paul, Minnesota: Eaton, known as “Pete,” and another

1
Although not required by WIS. STAT. RULE 809.86 (2021-22), we refer to the homicide
victim in this case using a pseudonym to protect his family’s privacy. We also refer to his family
members later in the opinion using pseudonyms. All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to
the 2021-22 version unless otherwise noted.
2
At trial, one of the State’s witnesses explained that a gem pack is a small “clear ziplock
plastic baggie.”

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No. 2022AP936-CR

individual known as “E.” Miller also received information that Ackerman had
contacted Eaton seventy-two times between April 28, 2017, and May 21, 2017,
including once on May 9. Miller then obtained cell phone records for Pearson,
Ackerman and Eaton. He also obtained GPS information for Ackerman’s cell
phone. The cell phone records showed that Pearson contacted Eaton on May 9
and that Pearson was in an area near Eaton’s address. The phone records also
revealed that Pearson, Ackerman and Eaton were in the same area at the same time
on May 9.

¶4 Miller interviewed both Ackerman and Eaton. Eaton told Miller that
he had met with Ackerman and Pearson between five and ten times, that
Ackerman and Pearson always came together, and that he gave Ackerman and
Pearson heroin whenever they came to see him. Eaton also told Miller that he “got
rid of” the cell phone for which Miller had records when Ackerman started talking
to law enforcement about Eaton.

¶5 The State charged Eaton with one count of first-degree reckless
homicide by delivery of a controlled substance as a party to the crime in relation to
Pearson’s death. At trial, the jury heard testimony from several witnesses,
including Ackerman, Miller and Eaton.

¶6 Ackerman testified that on May 9, 2017, Eaton sent a group text that
read, “I’m good the best.” Ackerman explained that this was a message Eaton
typically sent when heroin was available for sale. Ackerman testified that he
picked up Pearson from his home in River Falls and drove to St. Paul. Ackerman
then called Eaton to tell him that he was close to Eaton’s location. When they
arrived, Eaton gave the heroin to Pearson, who then paid for the heroin.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

¶7 Ackerman also testified that he and Pearson went somewhere else
before returning to River Falls, but he could not remember where. Miller and
another witness, Colin Janilla, explained that Ackerman and Pearson stopped in
Minneapolis. Janilla testified that he met with Pearson in an alley near Janilla’s
apartment in Minneapolis on May 9, 2017. Janilla admitted that he met with
Pearson to conduct a drug transaction, but he denied selling heroin to Pearson.

¶8 Ackerman further testified that when he and Pearson returned to
River Falls, they went to Pearson’s room in the basement of Pearson’s home and
used the heroin Pearson had received from Eaton. Ackerman then left Pearson’s
house. The next morning, Pearson’s sister informed Ackerman that Pearson had
died. Ackerman then attempted to contact Eaton to tell him that Pearson had
overdosed.

¶9 Ackerman further revealed throughout his testimony that he had
received a plea deal from the State. In exchange for his truthful testimony, the
State amended Ackerman’s reckless homicide charge to a possession of heroin
charge. Ackerman also admitted that he lied during his interviews with law
enforcement. When Eaton testified, he agreed that he helped Ackerman and
Pearson buy heroin at some point, but he did not specifically remember a
transaction occurring on May 9, 2017.

¶10 Miller testified about his investigation into Pearson’s death,
including his use of a web-based mapping program called CellHawk. Miller used
CellHawk to import the call detail records that he collected from various phone
companies. Miller explained that CellHawk “automatically takes the information
and plots points on the map” that correspond with cell phone towers in the area.
The cell phone’s location is deemed to be in the area of the tower. Miller used

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No. 2022AP936-CR

CellHawk to create a video showing approximate cell phone locations for Pearson,
Ackerman and Eaton on May 9, 2017, and GPS location data for Ackerman’s
phone throughout the day. The locations were consistent with Ackerman’s
testimony regarding his and Pearson’s travels on May 9.

¶11 The jury found Eaton guilty of the crime charged. The circuit court
subsequently imposed a ten-year sentence consisting of five years of initial
confinement followed by five years of extended supervision. Eaton then filed a
postconviction motion seeking a new trial on two grounds and dismissal on
another ground. First, Eaton alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective because
she failed to: (1) object when the State asked several witnesses whether they had
ever been convicted of a crime and those witnesses responded, “[N]o”; (2) failed
to subpoena Ackerman; (3) failed to impeach Ackerman with sufficient evidence;
and (4) failed to call an expert to challenge Miller’s testimony regarding his use of
CellHawk. Eaton further alleged that his trial counsel’s combined errors
prejudiced him. Second, Eaton alleged that his proposed expert’s testimony
regarding CellHawk constituted newly discovered evidence. Finally, Eaton
alleged that the State presented insufficient evidence to convict him because
Wisconsin lacked territorial jurisdiction over the alleged crime, which required
dismissal.

¶12 The circuit court denied Eaton’s postconviction motion without
holding an evidentiary hearing, concluding that the motion failed to allege
sufficient facts that, if true, would entitle Eaton to the requested relief. The court
found that Eaton’s claims for ineffective assistance of counsel were insufficient,
conclusory and speculative. The court similarly found that it could not assess
Eaton’s newly discovered evidence claim because he failed to allege any
information explaining the newly discovered evidence. Finally, the court rejected

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No. 2022AP936-CR

Eaton’s territorial jurisdiction argument because it was undisputed that Pearson
died in Wisconsin.

¶13 Eaton now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary
below.

DISCUSSION

¶14 Whether the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion by
denying a defendant’s postconviction motion without holding an evidentiary
hearing presents a mixed standard of review. State v. Ruffin, 2022 WI 34, ¶26,
401 Wis. 2d 619, 974 N.W.2d 432. First, we determine whether “the motion on its
face alleges sufficient material facts that, if true, would entitle the defendant to
relief.” Id., ¶27. We also determine whether the record conclusively demonstrates
that the defendant is not entitled to relief. Id. Both determinations are questions
of law that we review de novo. State v. Jackson, 2023 WI 3, ¶8, 405 Wis. 2d 458,
983 N.W.2d 608.

¶15 If the defendant’s postconviction motion does not raise sufficient
facts entitling the defendant to relief, or presents only conclusory allegations, “or
if the record conclusively demonstrates that the defendant is not entitled to relief,
the circuit court has the discretion to grant or deny a hearing.” Ruffin, 401
Wis. 2d 619, ¶28. We review a circuit court’s discretionary decision for an
erroneous exercise of discretion. Id. “An exercise of discretion is erroneous if it
is based on an error of fact or law.” Id.

¶16 A postconviction motion alleges sufficient facts when it includes
“facts that ‘allow the reviewing court to meaningfully assess [the defendant’s]
claim.’” State v. Allen, 2004 WI 106, ¶21, 274 Wis. 2d 568, 682 N.W.2d 433

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No. 2022AP936-CR

(alteration in original; citation omitted). Those facts must be material to the
defendant’s claim and must include “the five ‘w’s’ and one ‘h’; that is, who, what,
where, when, why, and how.” Id., ¶¶22-23.

¶17 Eaton argues that he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing because
his motion provided “particularized reasons why a hearing should have been
granted.” We conclude, for the reasons explained below, that the circuit court did
not erroneously exercise its discretion by denying Eaton’s motion without a
hearing.

I. Ineffective assistance of counsel

¶18 A claim for ineffective assistance of counsel requires the defendant
to show both that his or her trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that
counsel’s deficient performance resulted in prejudice to the defense. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). We need not address both parts if the
“defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.” Id. at 697.

¶19 Trial counsel’s performance is deficient if “counsel’s representation
fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. Judicial scrutiny
of counsel’s performance is highly deferential and strongly presumes “that
counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance.” Id. at 689. Courts must avoid “the distorting effects of hindsight”
and evaluate the reasonableness of counsel’s conduct “on the facts of the particular
case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s conduct.” Id. at 689-90. The defendant
must therefore “identify the acts or omissions of counsel that are alleged not to
have been the result of reasonable professional judgment.” Id. at 690.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

¶20 Prejudice requires the defendant to show “that but for his [or her]
lawyer’s error, there is a reasonable probability the jury would have had a
reasonable doubt as to guilt.” State v. Sholar, 2018 WI 53, ¶45, 381 Wis. 2d 560,
912 N.W.2d 89. A reasonable probability means “a probability sufficient to
undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. Prejudice is
not presumed “simply because certain decisions or actions of counsel were made
in error.” State v. Balliette, 2011 WI 79, ¶24, 336 Wis. 2d 358, 805 N.W.2d 334.
Instead, the defendant “must establish that ‘particular errors of counsel were
unreasonable’ and ‘that they actually had an adverse effect on the defense.’”
Sholar, 381 Wis. 2d 560, ¶33 (citation omitted).

A. Questions to witnesses regarding their prior convictions

¶21 Eaton’s postconviction motion first argued that his trial counsel was
constitutionally ineffective because she did not object to the State’s questions to
three witnesses who answered “[N]o” when asked whether they had any prior
convictions. On the second day of trial, the State informed the circuit court and
Eaton’s counsel that it would be asking six witnesses if they had ever been
convicted of a crime. These six witnesses were Walter and Janice—two of
Pearson’s family members—and Janilla, Ackerman, Virginia Kiesow, and Robin
Anding. The State advised the court that Walter, Janice and Janilla would answer
“[N]o” when asked about their prior convictions, while Ackerman, Kiesow and
Anding would answer “[Y]es.” Eaton’s counsel did not object to the State asking
the question of these witnesses.

¶22 Although Eaton’s postconviction motion mentioned Janice’s and
Walter’s responses to the State’s question regarding any prior convictions, it did
not allege anything more regarding their responses. Eaton’s motion focused only

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No. 2022AP936-CR

on Janilla’s response, apparently because Janilla sold drugs to Pearson in
Minneapolis on May 9, 2017, but denied selling heroin to Pearson. Eaton alleged
that allowing Janilla to answer that he had no prior convictions unfavorably
bolstered Janilla’s credibility and “likely contributed to the jury verdict that it was
Eaton, and not Colin Janilla, or someone else, that delivered the fatal dose.” These
are the only allegations that Eaton made in his motion regarding his counsel’s
failure to object to the State’s questions to certain witnesses asking whether they
had any prior convictions.

¶23 Eaton’s speculative and conclusory allegations are insufficient to
establish that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to object, especially given
that he alleged no other facts demonstrating that Janilla’s response had any effect
on the jury. Eaton simply asserted that Janilla’s lack of prior convictions bolstered
Janilla’s credibility with the jury and then summarily concluded that Janilla’s lack
of prior convictions likely contributed to the jury’s verdict. But Eaton focused
solely on Janilla’s testimony and failed to assess it within the context of the rest of
the evidence presented to the jury. This failure is particularly troublesome given
that the question regarding prior convictions was only a brief moment in Janilla’s
testimony regarding his background and given that the State did not emphasize the
answer. Eaton’s failure to assess the impact of the jury hearing that Janilla had no
prior convictions within the context of the rest of the evidence is further
problematic because Eaton’s counsel did elicit testimony affecting Janilla’s
credibility when Janilla admitted that he conducted a drug transaction with
Pearson on May 9, 2017.

¶24 Without pointing to any facts showing how Janilla’s response
affected the verdict, and without assessing the testimony in the context of the rest
of the evidence, Eaton cannot demonstrate a reasonable probability that his

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No. 2022AP936-CR

counsel’s failure to object had an effect on his defense and thus resulted in
prejudice. Eaton’s postconviction motion therefore failed to allege sufficient facts
demonstrating that he is entitled to relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel
claim relating to the State’s questions regarding prior convictions.

B. Ackerman’s testimony

¶25 At the end of Ackerman’s testimony, Eaton’s counsel noted that she
might recall Ackerman. Ackerman, however, was allowed to leave as he had
appeared voluntarily to testify and was not under subpoena from the State.
Eaton’s postconviction motion argued that his trial counsel was ineffective
because she forgot to subpoena Ackerman and was unable to recall him for the
defense’s case. Eaton’s motion further alleged that whatever counsel planned to
do in order to attack Ackerman’s credibility is unknown because she did not
subpoena him and failed to recognize that the State did not subpoena him. The
motion also alleged that Eaton’s counsel presumably meant to impeach Ackerman
with prior inconsistent statements he made during his interviews with law
enforcement.

¶26 Eaton, however, never explains—either in his postconviction motion
or now on appeal—why his counsel performed deficiently by failing to subpoena
Ackerman in order to impeach him with his prior inconsistent statements,
especially when counsel thoroughly cross-examined Ackerman and did impeach
him regarding his prior inconsistent statements. Thus, Eaton’s postconviction
motion failed to allege sufficient facts demonstrating that he is entitled to relief on
his ineffective assistance of counsel claim relating to counsel’s failure to subpoena
Ackerman.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

¶27 Eaton’s postconviction motion also argued that his trial counsel did
not effectively impeach Ackerman. On cross-examination, Eaton’s counsel used
the transcripts from Ackerman’s three interviews with law enforcement and
thoroughly questioned him on statements he made during those interviews.
Ackerman read from the transcripts of those interviews and admitted that he made
several statements to law enforcement that were inconsistent with his trial
testimony. For example, counsel questioned Ackerman about the name of a drug
dealer in Minneapolis, “JR,” that he provided in his second interview with law
enforcement. Ackerman testified that JR was not a drug dealer, but then admitted
JR was a “middleman” after counsel noted a different interview in which
Ackerman stated that JR was a middleman.

¶28 Eaton’s counsel also questioned Ackerman about another dealer
referred to as “E” from whom he purchased drugs. Ackerman admitted that he
purchased drugs from E and that E also lived in the St. Paul area. Counsel also
asked Ackerman if he remembered telling law enforcement “that the main guy you
would go to could be E?” Ackerman responded that he did not remember.
Finally, Eaton’s counsel asked:

And if you go to page 29, you were asked during the
interview, “Yes. At a later date, you find out that he died,
that [Pearson] died after using heroin that you guys got
from E, right? Did he use more than you?” And you said,
“Yeah, because he just kept snorting it.” Is that accurate?

Ackerman responded, “That is my belief that is why he died, because he continued
to snort heroin, yes.”

¶29 Eaton’s postconviction motion alleged that his counsel attempted to
make Ackerman admit that, in one of his interviews with law enforcement, he
stated that “E” was the main source of drugs for both him and Pearson. Eaton

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No. 2022AP936-CR

alleged that his counsel was nevertheless ineffective because she did not produce
this statement or the video recording of that interview. He further alleged that
counsel should have produced the video recording of an interview in which
Ackerman stated he was “pretty sure” that he and Pearson purchased heroin from
someone other than Eaton on May 9, 2017. Finally, Eaton alleged that counsel
should have produced the statement or video recording in which Ackerman
identified E as the seller of the drugs that killed Pearson, because the identification
took place closer to the date of Pearson’s death than to the date of the trial.
Because the jury deliberated for a long time (from 10:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m.), Eaton
alleged that this evidence could have changed the verdict.

¶30 Given the facts alleged by Eaton and the undisputed record, Eaton
has not met his burden to show that his counsel performed deficiently. In
particular, Eaton does not explain how counsel’s actual cross-examination of
Ackerman was deficient. He only asserts that counsel should have used more
statements and used the video recordings, but he fails to explain—either in his
postconviction motion or now on appeal—why showing the jury the video
recordings or introducing additional statements from the transcripts was necessary
or would have made counsel’s cross-examination any more effective. Although
counsel could have used the video recordings during Ackerman’s
cross-examination, it does not mean that counsel was deficient for using the
transcripts of those recordings instead of using the recordings themselves. We do
not evaluate counsel’s conduct based on hindsight. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at
689. Furthermore, Eaton’s counsel used the transcripts of Ackerman’s interviews
to ask questions about “E” similar to those that Eaton now alleges she should have
asked. Counsel also used the transcripts to make Ackerman admit that he made
inconsistent statements.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

¶31 Eaton’s conclusory assertions that counsel performed deficiently by
failing to introduce the video recordings and additional statements, and that the
missing evidence could have changed the verdict are insufficient to establish that
trial counsel’s cross-examination was deficient. Eaton therefore failed to allege
sufficient facts demonstrating that he is entitled to relief on his ineffective
assistance of counsel claim relating to counsel’s alleged failure to effectively
impeach Ackerman.

C. CellHawk evidence

¶32 Eaton’s postconviction motion next alleged that his trial counsel was
ineffective because she failed to call an expert to challenge Miller’s testimony
regarding his use of CellHawk. Eaton alleged that such an expert would have
“ascertain[ed] if [law enforcement] used the software correctly” and rebutted the
State’s claim that Pearson and Ackerman were near Eaton on the relevant date.
Specifically, the motion alleged that Eaton’s appellate counsel retained the
services of an expert from Special Investigations and Forensic Technologies
(SIFT) to evaluate the State’s use of CellHawk. The motion further alleged that at
a forthcoming postconviction evidentiary hearing, the SIFT expert would rebut the
State’s claims made at trial regarding Pearson’s, Ackerman’s and Eaton’s location,
“testify as to how [he] would have presented the information at trial if [he] were
questioned and cross-examined,” and “explain the failures of the State’s
assumptions using scientific principles … based on [his] expertise.” Finally,
Eaton’s motion alleged that because the jury deliberated for a long time, it was
“reasonable to assume the jury had some question” as to whether Eaton sold the
heroin that caused Pearson’s death.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

¶33 We disagree in all respects. Eaton’s motion merely concluded that
the State’s use of CellHawk was flawed, that the SIFT expert would have rebutted
the State’s claims, and that the jury’s lengthy deliberation was because it
questioned whether Eaton sold the heroin to Pearson. Eaton never explains—
either in his postconviction motion or now on appeal—how Miller failed to make
proper use of CellHawk, what the SIFT expert would have testified to at trial, or
how that testimony would have rebutted the State’s claims. He further fails to
explain how the use of an expert would have led to a different outcome. Once
again, Eaton was required to make sufficient allegations to support the conclusions
in his postconviction motion; to the extent he relied on the sought-after evidentiary
hearing to supply such information, that approach is not how the procedure works.
See Balliette, 336 Wis. 2d 358, ¶68 (“The evidentiary hearing is not a fishing
expedition to discover ineffective assistance; it is a forum to prove ineffective
assistance.”). In any event, these allegations are, again, speculative and
conclusory, and they are therefore insufficient to demonstrate that Eaton is entitled
to relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim relating to Miller’s
testimony regarding his use of CellHawk.3

II. Newly discovered evidence

¶34 Eaton’s postconviction motion also raised a claim of newly
discovered evidence. In a claim for newly discovered evidence, “the defendant

3
Because Eaton’s postconviction motion failed to allege sufficient facts demonstrating
ineffective assistance of counsel in any respect, he is not entitled to relief on his aggregate
prejudice claim. See State v. Thiel, 2003 WI 111, ¶¶60-61, 264 Wis. 2d 571, 665 N.W.2d 305
(explaining that while a court “may aggregate the effects of multiple incidents of deficient
performance” when determining prejudice, a defendant “may not simply present a laundry list of
mistakes by counsel and expect to be awarded a new trial”).

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No. 2022AP936-CR

must prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that: (1) the evidence was
discovered after conviction; (2) the defendant was not negligent in seeking
evidence; (3) the evidence is material to an issue in the case; and (4) the evidence
is not merely cumulative.” State v. McCallum, 208 Wis. 2d 463, 473, 561
N.W.2d 707 (1997). If the defendant makes this showing, the court must then
determine “whether a reasonable probability exists that a different result would be
reached in a trial.” Id. “A reasonable probability of a different result exists if
there is a reasonable probability that a jury, looking at both the old and the new
evidence, would have a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt.” State v.
Avery, 2013 WI 13, ¶25, 345 Wis. 2d 407, 826 N.W.2d 60.

¶35 Eaton’s postconviction motion alleged that the SIFT expert’s
testimony is newly discovered evidence that would have rebutted Miller’s
testimony regarding his use of CellHawk and made a difference at trial if it were
made available to the jury. The motion also alleged that the information the SIFT
expert provided was not known before trial. At the same time, however, and as
discussed above, Eaton alleged that his trial counsel performed deficiently by
failing to present this evidence to demonstrate Miller’s errors in his use of
CellHawk. Thus, the evidence was available at the time of trial, and Eaton cannot
satisfy the newly discovered evidence test.

¶36 Furthermore, Eaton failed to allege any facts demonstrating the
remaining elements of the newly discovered evidence test. Eaton only asserted, in
a conclusory fashion, that the testimony would have rebutted Miller’s testimony
regarding his use of CellHawk and made a difference at trial. In short, Eaton fails
to allege—either in his postconviction motion or now on appeal—any facts
demonstrating that the SIFT expert’s testimony was newly discovered evidence.

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No. 2022AP936-CR

Therefore, he failed to allege sufficient facts demonstrating that he is entitled to
relief on this claim.

III. Sufficiency of the evidence regarding territorial jurisdiction

¶37 Finally, Eaton’s postconviction motion alleged that the State cannot
exercise territorial jurisdiction over his offense because he did not violate WIS.
STAT. § 961.41 in Wisconsin, and WIS. STAT. § 940.02(2)(a), the crime for which
he was charged and convicted, “explicitly requires delivery [of a controlled
substance] ‘in violation of’ … § 961.41.” Eaton asserted that he cannot face
penalties for violating § 961.41 because “his actions were committed wholly out
of state and no applicable territorial extensions have been declared by law.” Eaton
further asserted—and does so again in his appellate briefing—that § 940.02(2)(a)
“does not include violations of other jurisdictions’ laws that are similar to
§ 961.41.” Because Eaton did not deliver heroin “in violation of” § 961.41 in
Wisconsin, he argues that the State failed to present evidence demonstrating that
Wisconsin had jurisdiction over Eaton for first-degree reckless homicide under
§ 940.02(2)(a).

¶38 Wisconsin’s territorial jurisdiction statute provides that “[a] person
is subject to prosecution and punishment” under Wisconsin law if that person
“commits a crime, any of the constituent elements of which takes place in this
state.” WIS. STAT. § 939.03(1)(a). Constituent elements are the elements “that
make up the underlying criminal offense.” State v. Anderson, 2005 WI 54, ¶33,
280 Wis. 2d 104, 695 N.W.2d 731. In other words, they are “those elements of the
criminal offense that the State is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in
the prosecution of the offense.” Id. Thus, Wisconsin has territorial jurisdiction

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No. 2022AP936-CR

over a criminal offense if any of the elements making up the underlying criminal
offense took place in Wisconsin. See id.; § 939.03(1)(a).

¶39 WISCONSIN STAT. § 940.02(2)(a) requires the State to prove
that: (1) the defendant manufactured, distributed or delivered a controlled
substance “in violation of [WIS. STAT. §] 961.41”; (2) “[t]he substance was by
itself or contained [a controlled substance]”; (3) “[t]he defendant knew or believed
that the substance was by itself or contained [a controlled substance]”; (4) the
victim used the controlled substance; and (5) the victim died as a result of that use.
Sec. 940.02(2)(a); WIS JI—CRIMINAL 1021 (2023).4

¶40 Here, Pearson died in River Falls, Wisconsin, as a result of using the
heroin that Eaton delivered to him. Because death resulting from use of the
controlled substance is a constituent element of WIS. STAT. § 940.02(2)(a), and
because Pearson’s death indisputably took place in Wisconsin, our state has
territorial jurisdiction over Eaton. None of Eaton’s arguments undermine this
conclusion.5 Accordingly, he is not entitled to relief on this claim.

By the Court.—Judgment and order affirmed.

This opinion will not be published. See WIS. STAT.
RULE 809.23(1)(b)5.

4
Although the 2023 version of the jury instructions was not in effect at the time of
Eaton’s trial, for purposes of this appeal, it is materially the same as the version in effect at that
time.
5
While we need to decide the matter for purposes of rejecting Eaton’s challenge
regarding territorial jurisdiction, we perceive Eaton as reading too much into the clause “in
violation of [WIS. STAT. §] 961.41” in WIS. STAT. § 940.02(2)(a). Moreover, Eaton was not
separately charged with violating § 961.41 in this case.

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