11.1401 Criminal penalties; prosecution.
(1)
(a) Whoever intentionally violates s. 11.1204 or any registration or reporting requirement under this chapter is guilty of a Class I felony.
(b) Whoever intentionally violates subch. XI or s. 11.1201, 11.1208, or 11.1303 is guilty of a Class I felony if the intentional violation does not involve a specific figure or if the intentional violation concerns a figure which exceeds $100 in amount or value.
(c) Whoever intentionally violates any of the following may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both:
1. Any provision of this chapter other than those provided in par. (a).
2. Any provision under par. (b) if the violation concerns a specific amount or value not exceeding $100.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 19.49 (2) (b) 13. and 14. and (h) and 19.554, and only after the commission has determined probable cause, all prosecutions under this section shall be conducted by the district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than an individual resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county.
(3)
(a) If a successful candidate for public office, other than a candidate for the legislature, is adjudged guilty in a criminal action of any violation of this chapter under sub. (1) (a) or (b), or of any violation of ch. 12 under s. 12.60 (1) (a) committed during his or her candidacy, the court shall after entering judgment enter a supplemental judgment declaring a forfeiture of the candidate's right to office. The supplemental judgment shall be transmitted to the officer or agency authorized to issue the certificate of nomination or election to the office for which the person convicted is a candidate. If the candidate's term has not yet begun, the candidate shall not take office. If the candidate's term has begun, the office shall become vacant. The office shall then be filled in the manner provided by law.
(b) If a successful candidate for the legislature is adjudged guilty in a criminal action of any violation of this chapter under sub. (1) (a) or (b), or of any violation of ch. 12 under s. 12.60 (1) (a) committed during his or her candidacy, the court shall after entering judgment certify its findings to the presiding officer of the house of the legislature to which the candidate was elected.
History: 2015 a. 117 ss. 24, 24h, 74 (1m); 2021 a. 239 s. 74.
Former s. 11.61 (1) (a), 1977 stats., does not require the state to prove that the defendant had actual knowledge of the violated statute. State v. Dreske, 88 Wis. 2d 60, 276 N.W.2d 324 (Ct. App. 1979).
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 11 - Campaign financing.
11.0102 - Determination of filing officer and duty to file; fees.
11.0104 - Reporting exemptions: limited activity.
11.0105 - Reporting exemptions: dissolution of committee or conduit and termination reports.
11.0106 - Disbursements; form.
11.0201 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0202 - Registration; timing; candidate committee required.
11.0203 - Registration; required information.
11.0205 - Transfers between candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.
11.0206 - Soliciting funds on behalf of certain organizations.
11.0207 - Continuing compliance.
11.0301 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0302 - Registration; timing.
11.0303 - Registration; required information.
11.0401 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0402 - Registration; timing.
11.0403 - Registration; required information.
11.0501 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0502 - Registration; timing.
11.0503 - Registration; required information.
11.0505 - Reporting; specific express advocacy.
11.0601 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0602 - Registration; timing.
11.0603 - Registration; required information.
11.0605 - Reporting; specific express advocacy.
11.0701 - Registration; administrator and depositories.
11.0702 - Registration; timing.
11.0703 - Registration; required information.
11.0705 - Redirected contributions.
11.0801 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0802 - Registration; timing.
11.0803 - Registration; required information.
11.0901 - Registration; treasurer and depositories.
11.0902 - Registration; timing.
11.0903 - Registration; required information.
11.1001 - Reporting; specific express advocacy.
11.1101 - Contribution limits.
11.1106 - Conduit contributions.
11.1107 - Limitation on cash contributions.
11.1108 - Anonymous contributions.
11.1109 - In-kind contributions.
11.1110 - Return of contributions.
11.1111 - Valuation of opinion poll results.
11.1112 - Corporations, cooperatives, and tribes.
11.1113 - Sole proprietors, partnerships, and limited liability companies.
11.1114 - Two candidate committees.
11.1201 - False reports and statements.
11.1204 - Unlawful political contributions.
11.1205 - Use of government materials by candidates.
11.1206 - Travel by public officers.
11.1207 - Political solicitation involving public officials and employees restricted.
11.1208 - Unlawful political disbursements and obligations.
11.1301 - Defense fund authorized.
11.1303 - Attribution of political contributions, disbursements and communications.