Chapter 943

943.01(2m) (2m) Whoever causes damage to any physical property of another under all of the following circumstances is subject to a Class B forfeiture:

943.01(2m)(a) (a) The person does not consent to the damage of his or her property.

943.01(2m)(b) (b) The property damaged is on state-owned land and is listed on the registry under sub. (5).

943.01(3) (3) If more than one item of property is damaged under a single intent and design, the damage to all the property may be prosecuted as a single forfeiture offense or crime.

943.01(4) (4) In any case of unlawful damage involving more than one act of unlawful damage but prosecuted as a single forfeiture offense or crime, it is sufficient to allege generally that unlawful damage to property was committed between certain dates. At the trial, evidence may be given of any such unlawful damage that was committed on or between the dates alleged.

943.01(5) (5) The department of natural resources shall maintain a registry of prominent features in the landscape of state-owned land. To be included on the registry, a feature must have significant value to the people of this state.

943.01 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1981 c. 118 s. 9; 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 262, 486; 1995 a. 133, 208; 1997 a. 143; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2015 a. 158; 2019 a. 33.

943.01 Annotation To prove unlawful entry to a building with intent to commit a felony in violation of s. 943.10 (1) [now s. 943.10 (1m)] when the underlying felony was criminal damage to property in excess of $1,000, it was necessary to prove not only an intent to criminally damage property, but also that the damage to the property would exceed $1,000. Gilbertson v. State, 69 Wis. 2d 587, 230 N.W.2d 874 (1975).

943.01 Annotation Criminal damage to property is a lesser included offense of arson, s. 943.02. State v. Thompson, 146 Wis. 2d 554, 431 N.W.2d 716 (Ct. App. 1988).

943.01 Annotation A person can be convicted of criminal damage to property in which the person has an ownership interest if someone else has an ownership interest. State v. Sevelin, 204 Wis. 2d 127, 554 N.W.2d 521 (Ct. App. 1996), 96-0729.

943.011 943.011 Damage or threat to property of witness.

943.011(1) (1) In this section:

943.011(1)(a) (a) “Family member” means a spouse, child, stepchild, foster child, parent, sibling, or grandchild.

943.011(1)(b) (b) “Witness” has the meaning given in s. 940.41 (3).

943.011(2) (2) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

943.011(2)(a) (a) Intentionally causes damage or threatens to cause damage to any physical property owned by a person who is or was a witness by reason of the owner having attended or testified as a witness and without the owner’s consent.

943.011(2)(b) (b) Intentionally causes damage or threatens to cause damage to any physical property owned by a person who is a family member of a witness or a person sharing a common domicile with a witness by reason of the witness having attended or testified as a witness and without the owner’s consent.

943.011 History History: 1997 a. 143; 2001 a. 109; 2009 a. 28.

943.012 943.012 Criminal damage to or graffiti on religious and other property. Whoever intentionally causes damage to, intentionally marks, draws or writes with ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into any physical property of another, without the person’s consent and with knowledge of the character of the property, is guilty of a Class I felony if the property consists of one or more of the following:

943.012(1) (1) Any church, synagogue or other building, structure or place primarily used for religious worship or another religious purpose.

943.012(2) (2) Any cemetery, mortuary or other facility used for burial or memorializing the dead.

943.012(3) (3) Any school, educational facility or community center publicly identified as associated with a group of persons of a particular race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry or by an institution of any such group.

943.012(4) (4) Any personal property contained in any property under subs. (1) to (3) if the personal property has particular significance or value to any group of persons of a particular race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry and the actor knows the personal property has particular significance or value to that group.

943.012 History History: 1987 a. 348; 1995 a. 24; 2001 a. 109.

943.013 943.013 Criminal damage; threat; property of judge.

943.013(1) (1) In this section:

943.013(1)(a) (a) “Family member” means a parent, spouse, sibling, child, stepchild, or foster child.

943.013(1)(b) (b) “Judge” means a supreme court justice, court of appeals judge, circuit court judge, municipal judge, temporary or permanent reserve judge, or circuit, supplemental, or municipal court commissioner.

943.013(2) (2) Whoever intentionally causes or threatens to cause damage to any physical property that belongs to a judge or his or her family member under all of the following circumstances is guilty of a Class I felony:

943.013(2)(a) (a) At the time of the act or threat, the actor knows or should have known that the person whose property is damaged or threatened is a judge or a member of his or her family.

943.013(2)(b) (b) The judge is acting in an official capacity at the time of the act or threat or the act or threat is in response to any action taken in an official capacity.

943.013(2)(c) (c) There is no consent by the person whose property is damaged or threatened.

943.013 History History: 1993 a. 50, 446; 2001 a. 61, 109; 2009 a. 28.

943.014 943.014 Demolition of historic building without authorization.

943.014(1) (1) In this section, “historic building” means any building or structure that is listed on, or any building or structure within and contributing to a historic district that is listed on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places or any building or structure that is included on a list of historic places designated by a city, village, town or county.

943.014(2) (2) Whoever intentionally demolishes a historic building without a permit issued by a city, village, town or county or without an order issued under s. 66.0413 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.014(3) (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to any person if he or she acts as part of a state agency action and the state agency has complied with ss. 44.39 to 44.42 regarding the action.

943.014 History History: 1995 a. 466; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 109.

943.015 943.015 Criminal damage; threat; property of department of revenue employee.

943.015(1) (1) In this section, “family member” means a parent, spouse, sibling, child, stepchild, or foster child.

943.015(2) (2) Whoever intentionally causes or threatens to cause damage to any physical property which belongs to a department of revenue official, employee or agent or his or her family member under all of the following circumstances is guilty of a Class I felony:

943.015(2)(a) (a) At the time of the act or threat, the actor knows or should have known that the person whose property is damaged or threatened is a department of revenue official, employee or agent or a member of his or her family.

943.015(2)(b) (b) The official, employee or agent is acting in an official capacity at the time of the act or threat or the act or threat is in response to any action taken in an official capacity.

943.015(2)(c) (c) There is no consent by the person whose property is damaged or threatened.

943.015 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 446; 2001 a. 109; 2009 a. 28.

943.017 943.017 Graffiti.

943.017(1) (1) Whoever intentionally marks, draws or writes with paint, ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into the physical property of another without the other person’s consent is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.017(2) (2) Any person violating sub. (1) under any of the following circumstances is guilty of a Class I felony:

943.017(2)(a) (a) The property under sub. (1) is a vehicle or a highway, as defined in s. 943.01 (2) (a) 1., and the marking, drawing, writing or etching is of a kind which is likely to cause injury to a person or further property damage.

943.017(2)(b) (b) The property under sub. (1) belongs to a public utility or common carrier and the marking, drawing, writing or etching is of a kind which is likely to impair the services of the public utility or common carrier.

943.017(2)(c) (c) The property under sub. (1) belongs to a person who is or was a grand or petit juror and the marking, drawing, writing or etching was caused by reason of any verdict or indictment assented to by the owner.

943.017(2)(d) (d) If the total property affected in violation of sub. (1) is reduced in value by more than $2,500. For the purposes of this paragraph, property is reduced in value by the amount which it would cost to repair or replace it or to remove the marking, drawing, writing or etching, whichever is less.

943.017(2)(e) (e) The property affected is on state-owned land and is listed on the registry under s. 943.01.

943.017(2m) (2m) 

943.017(2m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

943.017(2m)(a)1. 1. “Family member” means a spouse, child, stepchild, foster child, parent, sibling, or grandchild.

943.017(2m)(a)2. 2. “Witness” has the meaning given in s. 940.41 (3).

943.017(2m)(b) (b) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

943.017(2m)(b)1. 1. Intentionally marks, draws or writes with paint, ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into, or threatens to mark, draw or write on or etch into, any physical property owned by a person who is or was a witness by reason of the owner having attended or testified as a witness and without the owner’s consent.

943.017(2m)(b)2. 2. Intentionally marks, draws or writes with paint, ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into, or threatens to mark, draw or write on or etch into, any physical property owned by a family member of a witness or by a person sharing a common domicile with a witness by reason of the witness having attended or testified as a witness and without the owner’s consent.

943.017(3) (3) 

943.017(3)(a) (a) In addition to any other penalties that may apply to a crime under this section, the court may require that a convicted defendant perform 100 hours of community service work for an individual, a public agency or a nonprofit charitable organization. The court may order community service work that is designed to show the defendant the impact of his or her wrongdoing. The court shall allow the victim to make suggestions regarding appropriate community service work. If the court orders community service work, the court shall ensure that the defendant receives a written statement of the community service order and that the community service order is monitored.

943.017(3)(b) (b) Any individual, organization or agency acting in good faith to whom or to which a defendant is assigned pursuant to an order under this subsection has immunity from any civil liability in excess of $25,000 for acts or omissions by or impacting on the defendant.

943.017(3)(c) (c) This subsection applies whether the court imposes a sentence or places the defendant on probation.

943.017(3)(d) (d) If the defendant is not placed on probation and the court orders community service work, the court shall specify in its order under this subsection the method of monitoring the defendant’s compliance with this subsection and the deadline for completing the work that is ordered. The court shall inform the defendant of the potential penalties for noncompliance that would apply under s. 973.07.

943.017(4) (4) If more than one item of property is marked, drawn or written upon or etched into under a single intent and design, the markings, drawings or writings on or etchings into all of the property may be prosecuted as a single crime.

943.017(5) (5) In any case under this section involving more than one act of marking, drawing, writing or etching but prosecuted as a single crime, it is sufficient to allege generally that unlawful marking, drawing or writing on or etching into property was committed between certain dates. At the trial, evidence may be given of any such unlawful marking, drawing, writing or etching that was committed on or between the dates alleged.

943.017 History History: 1995 a. 24; 1997 a. 35, 143; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2009 a. 28.

943.02 943.02 Arson of buildings; damage of property by explosives.

943.02(1) (1) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony:

943.02(1)(a) (a) By means of fire, intentionally damages any building of another without the other’s consent; or

943.02(1)(b) (b) By means of fire, intentionally damages any building with intent to defraud an insurer of that building; or

943.02(1)(c) (c) By means of explosives, intentionally damages any property of another without the other’s consent.

943.02(2) (2) In this section “building of another” means a building in which a person other than the actor has a legal or equitable interest which the actor has no right to defeat or impair, even though the actor may also have a legal or equitable interest in the building. Proof that the actor recovered or attempted to recover on a policy of insurance by reason of the fire is relevant but not essential to establish the actor’s intent to defraud the insurer.

943.02 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1993 a. 486; 2001 a. 109.

943.02 Annotation A mortgagee’s interest is protected under sub. (1) (a); evidence of fire insurance was admissible to prove a violation of sub. (1) (a). State v. Phillips, 99 Wis. 2d 46, 298 N.W.2d 239 (Ct. App. 1980).

943.02 Annotation Criminal damage to property under s. 943.01 is a lesser-included offense of arson. State v. Thompson, 146 Wis. 2d 554, 431 N.W.2d 716 (Ct. App. 1988).

943.02 Annotation For purposes of this section, an explosive is any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary purpose for which is to function by explosion. An explosion is a substantially instantaneous release of both gas and heat. State v. Brulport, 202 Wis. 2d 505, 551 N.W.2d 824 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-1687.

943.03 943.03 Arson of property other than building. Whoever, by means of fire, intentionally damages any property of another without the person’s consent, if the property is not a building and has a value of $100 or more, is guilty of a Class I felony.

943.03 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 109.

943.04 943.04 Arson with intent to defraud. Whoever, by means of fire, damages any property, other than a building, with intent to defraud an insurer of that property is guilty of a Class H felony. Proof that the actor recovered or attempted to recover on a policy of insurance by reason of the fire is relevant but not essential to establish the actor’s intent to defraud the insurer.

943.04 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 109.

943.05 943.05 Placing of combustible materials an attempt. Whoever places any combustible or explosive material or device in or near any property with intent to set fire to or blow up such property is guilty of an attempt to violate either s. 943.01, 943.012, 943.013, 943.02, 943.03 or 943.04, depending on the facts of the particular case.

943.05 History History: 1987 a. 348; 1993 a. 50.

943.06 943.06 Molotov cocktails.

943.06(1) (1) As used in this section, “fire bomb” means a breakable container containing a flammable liquid with a flash point of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or less, having a wick or similar device capable of being ignited, but does not mean a device commercially manufactured primarily for the purpose of illumination.

943.06(2) (2) Whoever possesses, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, gives or transfers a fire bomb is guilty of a Class H felony.

943.06(3) (3) This section shall not prohibit the authorized use or possession of any such device by a member of the armed forces or by fire fighters or law enforcement officers.

943.06 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (3); 2001 a. 109.