WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsUPDATE: Man who openly carried gun will fight citation
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Travis Yates demonstrated on August 10 how he openly carried his handgun through downtown Madison before police cited him.MADISON (WKOW) -- The UW-Madison graduate student, who police cited with disorderly conduct after walking openly with a gun for about a dozen blocks in broad daylight through downtown, is fighting his ticket.
Travis Yates tells 27 News that his lawyer entered a "mute plea" in municipal court, in effect a not guilty plea. A preliminary hearing is now scheduled for September 29.
Yates said he opted to have his case heard before a judge, not a jury. In an email this week, he wrote, "We are hoping the city will decide not to prosecute."
Ealier this year, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued an advisory to the state's district attorneys, asking them to consider circumstances before charging someone who openly carries with disorderly conduct.
That memorandum was issued following an incident in West Allis in February in which a homeowner was charged after a neighbor saw him walking on his lawn with a gun in plain view.
Email Carl Agnelly at cagnelly@wkowtv.com
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