Criminal Defense Lawyer — Felony & Misdemeanor Attorney in Neenah, WI
Facing a theft, battery, forgery, or disorderly conduct charge in Neenah or the Fox Valley? Get honest answers at a free consultation, and one attorney who stays on your case from your first call to your final hearing.
- Straight talk about cost. At your free consultation, we'll walk through what cases like yours typically cost, and tell you honestly whether your matter fits a flat fee or is the kind of case that needs phase billing as it develops.
- One attorney, every court date. Attorney Steven Johnson personally handles your case from your first appearance to final resolution — never a rotating roster.
- The first 48 hours matter. Initial appearances can happen within days of an arrest, and early representation before that date changes outcomes.
- 4.4 ★ · 41 Google reviews
- 20+ years in local courts
- WI Bar #1048934
- Winnebago County owned & operated
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
Every new client starts with a free, confidential consultation and an honest conversation about what their case is likely to cost. A real person answers the phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — no AI intake bots, no runaround.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
What Is a Felony & Misdemeanor Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A felony and misdemeanor criminal defense lawyer represents you when you're charged with a crime under Wisconsin law, working to protect your rights, your record, and your freedom from the first court appearance through final resolution. This page covers charges like theft, retail theft, forgery, battery, and disorderly conduct — the charge classes that make up most criminal cases in Winnebago and Outagamie County courts. Wisconsin grades these offenses as either felonies, punishable by more than a year in prison, or misdemeanors, carrying a maximum of nine months in jail.
At Johnson Law Firm S.C., Attorney Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) has defended felony and misdemeanor cases in Winnebago and Outagamie County courts for more than 20 years. You won't be handed off to an associate. Call 920-730-8250 to talk through your situation, free of charge.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Our Process: From Arrest to Resolution
Every criminal case moves through the same basic structure, whether it resolves quickly or goes the distance.
- Free Consultation & Honest Cost Conversation. We review your charges and talk through what similar cases have cost, and whether yours is likely to fit a flat fee or need phase billing.
- Initial Appearance. This can happen within days of an arrest — you're formally informed of the charges and bail or bond conditions are set.
- Investigation & Evidence Review. We independently review the evidence, the stop or search that led to your charge, and any statements taken.
- Pretrial Motions & Negotiation. We challenge improperly obtained evidence where applicable and negotiate toward the best available resolution.
- Plea or Trial. Many cases resolve through a negotiated plea; when that's not the right outcome for you, Attorney Johnson takes your case to trial.
- Sentencing & Next Steps. If a conviction results, we address sentencing directly, and where you qualify, raise expungement eligibility at this stage — the only time Wisconsin law allows it to be requested.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
The First 48 Hours After an Arrest
The first 48 hours after an arrest are when some of the most consequential decisions in your case get made, often before you've even spoken to a lawyer. Anything you say to police can be used against you, and in Wisconsin, an initial appearance can happen within just a few days of arrest.
- Stay quiet beyond identifying yourself. You have the right to remain silent, and using it isn't the same as looking guilty.
- Don't try to explain your way out of it. Well-meaning explanations given without a lawyer present are often the statements prosecutors rely on most.
- Write down what you remember. Names, times, and what was said, while it's still fresh, can matter later.
- Call before your first court date, not after. Early representation can affect bail conditions, evidence preservation, and the options available to you.
If you or someone you love was arrested recently, call 920-730-8250 now rather than waiting for the first court date to arrive.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost in Wisconsin?
Cost depends heavily on the charge and how the case unfolds. Some straightforward misdemeanor matters can be handled on a flat-fee basis, while felony charges or contested cases requiring motion practice and trial preparation typically require phase billing, since it's genuinely difficult to predict how much a contested case will demand until it's underway. Call 920-730-8250 to get your specific quote.
What we can promise: an honest conversation about cost at your free consultation, plain talk about whether your matter is a flat-fee case or one that needs phase billing, and a heads-up before any additional work is added if your case's circumstances change.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Felony vs. Misdemeanor in Wisconsin: What's the Real Difference?
A felony and a misdemeanor are both crimes under Wisconsin law, but the line between them changes everything from potential prison time to your future rights.
| Felony | Misdemeanor | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum penalty | More than 1 year — up to life (Class A) | Up to 9 months (Class A) |
| Where it's served | State prison | County jail |
| Firearm rights | Lost upon conviction | Generally retained (with exceptions) |
| Expungement eligibility | Only Class H & I, nonviolent, if under 25 at offense | Possible if under 25 at offense |
| Examples on this page | Felony theft, felony forgery, substantial battery | Retail theft, disorderly conduct, simple battery |
Not sure which category your charge falls into? That's exactly what the free consultation is for. Call 920-730-8250 and we'll walk through your specific charge honestly.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
What's Included: Every Piece of Your Case, Handled by One Attorney
Criminal charges rarely stay simple. Here's what falls under this practice, organized the way Wisconsin courts actually group these offenses.
Offenses Against Persons: Battery
Battery charges range from a misdemeanor for simple battery to a felony for substantial or aggravated battery, depending on the injury involved and the circumstances.
Offenses Against Property: Theft & Retail Theft
Theft charges range from a misdemeanor for lower-value retail theft to a felony as the value or circumstances escalate, and the right defense strategy depends heavily on which side of that line your case falls.
Financial & White-Collar Crimes: Forgery
Forgery involves falsifying a document with intent to defraud, and Wisconsin treats it as a felony under its financial and white-collar crime category, making early evidence review especially important.
Public Order Offenses: Disorderly Conduct
Disorderly conduct is a broad misdemeanor charge that also frequently appears as a reduced or amended charge from something more serious, which matters when negotiating your case.
Expungement
Wisconsin only allows expungement if the judge orders it at the time of sentencing, not afterward, which makes raising it early in your case essential if you may qualify.
OWI & Drunk Driving Defense
If your charge involves alcohol or drugs behind the wheel, that's a Traffic or Vehicle Crime under Wisconsin's classification and is handled with its own focused strategy on its own page.
Weapon Offenses
Weapon charges range from unlawful possession or carrying a concealed weapon to possession by a prohibited person or using a weapon in the commission of another crime, each carrying its own evidentiary questions about how the weapon was found and whether you were legally entitled to have it.
Crimes Involving Law Enforcement
Charges like resisting or obstructing an officer, fleeing or eluding, or providing false information often arise alongside another charge, and how the underlying stop or encounter unfolded matters just as much here as it does in the original charge.
Participatory Offenses
Wisconsin can charge attempt, conspiracy, solicitation, or aiding and abetting even when you didn't carry out the underlying crime yourself, and a charge can carry a party-to-a-crime (PTAC) modifier that raises what the state has to prove.
Additional Traffic & Vehicle Crimes
Beyond OWI, reckless driving, hit and run, and vehicular injury or homicide charges carry serious, sometimes felony-level consequences, and are handled with the same case-by-case evidence review as any other criminal charge.
Bail Jumping
Bail jumping, meaning violating a condition of your release while a case is pending, is treated as its own separate charge in Wisconsin, on top of whatever the original case involved.
Drug Charges & Domestic Violence Defense
Drug offenses and charges carrying a domestic abuse modifier fall under their own categories with their own evidentiary issues and collateral consequences, and are covered on their own dedicated page.
Criminal Charges & Custody or Divorce Cases
A pending criminal charge can directly affect an active custody or divorce case, and handling both under one firm prevents two lawyers from working against each other without realizing it.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
One attorney, every step
Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) personally handles your case from your first appearance to final resolution — never a hand-off to a rotating associate.
Honest cost conversations, not empty promises.
We'll tell you what similar cases have cost, whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your situation, and give you a heads-up if your case's scope changes along the way — no firm can promise a locked-in price, and we won't pretend otherwise.
20+ years in the courthouses that matter
Winnebago and Outagamie County judges, prosecutors, and court commissioners know this firm.
A real person answers the phone
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no AI intake bot standing between you and an answer.
Criminal and family law under one roof
If your charge intersects with a custody case or divorce, one firm handles all of it.
Testimonials
What Fox Valley Clients Say
Reviews below are verbatim from Google. Reviewer neighborhoods are not published by Google — each card is labeled "Google Verified Review". Service labels are drawn from review content.
"Attorney Johnson gave very good advice on what steps to take for my case his paralegal Liz was amazing. She was very informative and kept me up-to-date on everything. She is amazing. I really appreciate everything that she did for me and helping assist with my case along with attorney Johnson as well. I gave five stars because I feel like Attorney Johnson was amazing but I also feel like his paralegal did a great job and what she does."
Leia G.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense
"Liz and Steve did a wonderful job on my case they got my case dismissed they both kept in great contact with me explained everything well I would recommend them highly Thank guys great job!!!"
Diana M.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense (case dismissed)
"Thank you very much on your help with my case. Mrs. Aherm was very helpful and kept me informed on all the details on my case. This is the team to go with 100% !!!"
Jesse O.
Google Verified Review
"Big thanks to Steve and Liz. Both are very helpful, listen, very skilled at there jobs and I'm eternally grateful! Thank you both!"
UP P.
Google Verified Review
Service Area
Serving Neenah, the Fox Cities & All of Winnebago and Outagamie Counties
Outagamie
- Appleton
- Grand Chute
- Kaukauna
- Little Chute
- Seymour
- Combined Locks
Calumet
- Chilton
- New Holstein
- Brillion
Winnebago
- Oshkosh
- Neenah
- Menasha
Brown
- Green Bay
- De Pere
- Howard
Waupaca
- New London
- Waupaca
- Clintonville
Shawano
- Shawano
- Bonduel
- Wittenberg
Fond du Lac
- Fond du Lac
- Ripon
- Waupun
Oconto
- Oconto
- Oconto Falls
- Lena
Kewaunee
- Kewaunee
- Luxemburg
- Algoma
Waushara
- Wautoma
- Coloma
- Redgranite
Manitowoc
- Manitowoc
- Two Rivers
- Kiel
Green Lake
- Berlin
- Green Lake
- Markesan
Door
- Stergeon Bay
- Sister Bay
- Ephraim
Sheboygan
- Sheboygan
- Plymouth
- Sheboygan Falls
Dodge
- Beaver Dam
- Watertown
- Mayville
Criminal Defense Lawyer
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Wisconsin?
A felony is punishable by more than one year in prison, while a misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of nine months in jail. Wisconsin grades felonies from Class A down to Class I, and misdemeanors from Class A down to Class C.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Wisconsin?
Cost depends on the charge and complexity. We'll give you an honest estimate at your free consultation and explain plainly whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your case. Call 920-730-8250 to get started.
Can a criminal record be expunged in Wisconsin?
Only if you were under 25 at the time of the offense, the conviction is a misdemeanor or a nonviolent felony with a maximum sentence of six years or less, and the judge orders expungement at the time of sentencing.
What happens at a first court appearance after an arrest?
An initial appearance can happen within days of an arrest, where you're formally informed of the charges and bail or bond conditions are set. Call 920-730-8250 before that date if at all possible.
Can a felony be reduced to a misdemeanor in Wisconsin?
Yes, in some cases, through negotiation, a deferred prosecution agreement, or post-conviction relief such as a sentence modification.
Does a misdemeanor conviction show up on a background check?
Yes, unless the record qualifies for and receives expungement.
Contact
Ready to Talk?
Initial appearances can happen within days of an arrest, so waiting costs you options you'd otherwise have. Talk to Attorney Steven Johnson today, free of charge.
Phone
920-730-8250
Address
2649 Cavalry Ln
Neenah, WI 54956
Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Our Legal Services
Full-Service Representation for Neenah & the Fox Valley
Criminal Defense in Neenah & the Fox Valley
Johnson Law Firm S.C. defends felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Winnebago and Outagamie counties — theft, retail theft, forgery, battery, disorderly conduct, drug charges, and traffic offenses. Wisconsin felony penalties run from 3.5 years to life under Wis. Stat. § 939.50, and even a Class A misdemeanor carries up to 9 months in jail, so early representation matters. Attorney Steven Johnson brings 20+ years of courtroom experience at the Winnebago County Courthouse and beyond, challenging stops, searches, and evidence while keeping you informed at every step. Free consultations with a written fee quote.
OWI / Drunk Driving Defense
A Wisconsin OWI conviction follows you forever — it can never be expunged. First offenses bring a 6–9 month revocation, $585+ in forfeitures and surcharges, a mandatory AODA assessment, and an ignition interlock at 0.15 BAC or higher; second offenses become criminal. We examine the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and breath or blood testing for every client from Neenah, Appleton, Oshkosh, and the Lake Winnebago communities. Deadlines start immediately after arrest, so call 920-730-8250 before your court date.
Family Law & Divorce
Divorce, legal separation, child custody and physical placement, child support, CHIPS defense, restraining order petitions and defense, and guardianships for children and adults — handled by one attorney across Winnebago, Outagamie, and Calumet counties. We explain Wisconsin's 120-day waiting period, marital property presumptions, and the best-interest placement factors of Wis. Stat. § 767.41 in plain English, then put your strategy and fees in writing. From Doty Island to downtown Appleton, Fox Valley families get straight answers here — starting with a free consultation.
Wills & Estate Basics
A valid will keeps your property, your children's guardianship, and your final wishes out of dispute — and out of avoidable Winnebago County probate battles. Attorney Johnson drafts wills for Fox Valley families and pairs them with the guardianship experience the firm uses in family court every week. If you don't have a will, Wisconsin's intestacy statutes decide for you; an afternoon in our Neenah office fixes that. Ask about wills during any consultation.