Not Guilty, Means Everything
At Nelson Defense Group, we practice only criminal defense law. We’ve earned a reputation across Wisconsin for securing not guilty verdicts in some of the most serious, life-changing cases — including a record number in homicide trials.
Founding attorney Aaron A. Nelson has earned eight Martin Hanson Memorial Awards for not guilty verdicts in Wisconsin homicide trials, more than any other attorney in the state.
We’ve successfully defended clients in complex jury trials involving charges like OWI/DUI, sexual assault, violent crimes, drug crimes, homicide, domestic violence, gun crimes, and other serious offenses. No matter the charge, we’re here to protect your future.
Successful Outcomes
Vehicular Homicide — Our client and friend left the bar, and nobody saw who entered the vehicle. They got into an accident due to the driver’s speed, resulting in both people being ejected from the vehicle.
The decedent was the driver.
1st Degree Intentional Homicide — Decedent was shot and killed. A video of the incident revealed an unclear image of the shooter. Our client was accused by others.
One of the State’s prisoner witnesses was more likely to be the shooter than the accused.
Felony Murder (PTAC) — Group of teens tried to buy marijuana; one shot the dealer. The state charged all five with Attempted Armed Robbery. Jury took under two hours to find our client didn’t aid or assist the shooter.
There was no robbery plan, and our client was unaware of the gun, making them neither an accomplice nor an aider in the crime.
Felony Vehicular Homicide — Pierce County mother charged with three counts of felony Vehicular Homicide and one misdemeanor charge of Reckless Driving after a head on collision resulted in the death of three children. Found “not guilty” on all charges by a jury, after just two hours of deliberation.
The accident was a result of weather and tires, not texting while driving.
1st Degree Reckless Homicide — Our client lived with his sister, sister’s husband, and their child. After the husband attacked our client’s sister and threatened all, our client shot in self-defense.
Self Defense
Our client was charged with being a shooter in an armed robbery with both homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon and 1st Degree Intentional Homicide (as party to a crime). Our Client was found not guilty on both counts.
The codefendant was the shooter. Our client did not know about the gun and was therefore not a party to the crime.
1st Degree Intentional Homicide (PTAC) — After a night out, a group of young men attacked our client and his friends. Our client’s brother responds and stabs an attacker, resulting in their death. Our client was charged with a crime. Case dismissed week before trial.
A breakdown of video frame by frame shows the client was not aiding and abetting when stabbing occurred.
1st Degree Reckless Homicide — Alleged delivery of drugs causing death.
There was no delivery, and the decedent had his own drugs. The state’s proof problems with delivery and cause of death resulted in a case dismissal.
Reckless Homicide — Father accused of physically abusing his infant child, resulting in the child’s death. After weeks of trial, he was found not guilty of both the homicide charge and 3 counts of physical abuse of a child.
The infant had health issues since birth, which was the cause of injury and death, not physical abuse.
2nd Degree Sexual Assault — College student was charged with three counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault and one count of Battery. On day three of jury trial, the Judge dismissed one count of Sexual Assault because the State could not meet its burden. After four days of trial, the jurors took less than 30 minutes to find him not guilty of all charges.
Act was consensual.
Sexual Intercourse with a Child — A battered woman was coerced into illegal acts by husband, who had a gun to her head. She was charged with 12 counts and found not guilty on all.
Battered woman, coercion defense.
Sexual Assault of a Child — Our client was charged with three counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child under 12 and found not guilty in less than an hour after a week-long jury trial.
The child was only a victim of a custody struggle and was manipulated by his mother, but he was never sexually assaulted.
2nd Degree Child Sexual Assault — Stepdad charged with sexual assault when 15 year old made allegations in the middle of a placement dispute.
15-year-old had a motive to lie, including attention-seeking behavior and wanting to get back at stepdad for discipline.
2nd Degree Sexual Assault — Man charged with 3rd Degree Sexual Assault was found not guilty of all charges after the defense convinced the jury that the sexual event was consensual.
Contact was consensual.
2nd Degree Sexual Assault — After a breakup, our client’s girlfriend made accusations of violent sexual assault.
The alleged act did not happen. The acts that did occur were consensual.
2nd degree Sexual Assault — Teenage boy accused of violent assault of classmate on school grounds several years after incident. Found not guilty.
Contact was consensual and there was no violence.
Strangulation and Suffocation — College student was accused of sexually assaulting a young family member. found not guilty by a jury of 4th Degree Sexual Assault.
Teenage girl confused dream with reality and alleged event never occurred.
OWI with a minor child in the vehicle — Father charged with driving drunk with son in car.
The father had not recently driven the vehicle, as it was inoperable. Drinking occurred after the car broke down while he was fixing it.
OWI — Man charged with driving under the influence on a highway.
The state’s evidence, including breath and standardized field sobriety tests were not liable or sufficient evidence to meet their burden of proof.
OWI/PAC with a child under 16 years of age in the motor vehicle — Father charged with operating while intoxicated with his son in the vehicle.
Father did not drink until after he got home.
OWI/PAC 3rd, criminal damage, THC possession, and paraphernalia — A Minnesota man was charged in Wisconsin after driving on private campground property. Before trial, Nelson Defense Group had the drug charges separated from the alcohol-based OWI/DUI charges. After a not guilty verdict, state dropped the remaining charges.
The driving was on private property and attempted OWI is not a crime.
OWI 3rd/Refusal — A Minnesota man was found not guilty after Nelson Defense Group took his OWI case to trial. Initially set for a plea and sentencing with another attorney, the firm highlighted the state’s lack of blood or breath tests and false field sobriety claims to win the case.
Client passed field sobriety testing that was given.
OWI 3rd — Minnesota man fell asleep behind the wheel of a running car after bartime in Wisconsin. He did not drive anywhere.
Client’s friend testified that he started the vehicle, not the client.
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