Fitchburg Municipal Court Arraignment Session – February 26, 2026

On February 26, 2026, the Fitchburg Municipal Court held an arraignment session in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. The judge opened by explaining the plea process, Wisconsin demerit-point rules, OWI jury-trial rights, and the court's individualized sentencing philosophy, then heard a series of traffic and OWI cases. The agenda and minutes were not available; this summary is based on the raw transcript.

Court Process Overview

• The judge explained three plea options: not guilty, guilty, and no contest. With a not-guilty plea, the city must prove the case; a guilty plea accepts the facts in the citation; a no-contest plea results in a finding of guilt but generally cannot be used against the defendant in a later civil liability case.
• Wisconsin driving privileges are revoked if a driver accumulates 12 demerit points in one year. OWI defendants may request a jury trial in Dane County Circuit Court rather than Fitchburg Municipal Court.
• The court follows a philosophy of individualized justice: defendants may present mitigating circumstances, and first-time offenders may receive reduced fines, except in alcohol/drug-related or penal-code-type cases.
• Fines are generally due that night, but the court can allow up to 60 days to pay. Failure to comply can lead to a warrant, arrest, and up to 90 days in jail, with a $50-per-day credit against the fine; the city may also sue for jail maintenance costs of $85 per day.

Discussion Items and Cases

• Tristan Winterberg asked the court to remove an older absolute-sobriety conviction from his record before the five-year mark because it was affecting his job search. The judge noted he had no offenses since the March 28, 2024 conviction and said the court would take care of removing it.
• Juan Gonzalez pleaded guilty to unreasonable and imprudent speed, accepted full responsibility, and asked for a point reduction. Because his record was classified as habitual, the judge gave him 3 demerit points instead of 4 and left the fine unchanged.
• Robert Outhouse Seelin pleaded no contest to following too closely. He was on a probationary license with 9 existing points, and a conviction would push him to 13 points and a lost license. The judge delayed conviction for one month so Seelin could ask courts in Shawano and Menominee counties to amend or drop prior citations, and set a return date one month later.
• Anushri Gupta pleaded guilty to speeding 81 mph in a 55 mph zone. Gupta said he was a cancer-drug manufacturer running late to a shift. The judge reduced the demerit points from 6 to 4 and left the fine unchanged.
• A driver identified in the transcript as Bright and Zek pleaded no contest to speeding 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. The driver was on a probationary license with prior points and faced losing the license. The judge reduced the citation to 3 demerit points, required 24 hours of community service, and left the fine unchanged; the driver agreed.
• A brief, partially inaudible bench conference involved a young defendant and his mother/legal supporter. The clerk and judge referenced paperwork, a 60-day timeframe, a 24-hour requirement, a six-month condition, and that nothing would be entered at that time.
• An adult defendant pleaded guilty to two citations, including an OWI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.17. With no underage passengers and no accident, the court applied the third penalty category: a $1,036 fine. The defendant was also ordered to install a device in every vehicle he operates, and received a $78 fine instead of $124 for operating without a valid driver's license.
• Miguel Martinez Lopez pleaded guilty to a yellow-light violation and an OWI with a BAC of 0.13. With no aggravating circumstances, the fine was set at $923, six demerit points were assessed, and he was referred for an assessment at the Dane County Mental Health Institute. The yellow-light fine was reduced to $78, and the judge explained when a driver may legally proceed on a yellow light.
• William Romero (also transcribed as William Roblero) pleaded guilty to operating without insurance, operating without a valid driver's license, and OWI with a BAC of 0.13. The court imposed a $923 fine and a seven-month revocation of driving privileges, to begin once he obtains a valid license. The no-insurance fine was $38 instead of $124, and the no-valid-license fine was $78 with 3 demerit points. Romero stated the car was not currently insured and he was not driving it.

Key Outcomes

• One prior absolute-sobriety conviction was ordered removed from the defendant's record.
• Multiple guilty and no-contest pleas resulted in fines, demerit points, community service, license conditions, and OWI-related penalties.
• One case was continued for one month to allow the defendant to seek amendment or dismissal of prior out-of-county citations.
• Several fines and point assessments were reduced at the judge's discretion based on individual circumstances.