Support Needed for Legal Defense and Safety for a Transman

Hello friends and community, I come to you asking for support with a pressing matter. I’m going through a criminal court case, and the penalty of losing this case with no deal is 6 months in jail. As a trans person, I’m afraid for my physical and psychological safety in a Wisconsin jail, so I need a good criminal defense attorney. The ones I’ve found who would represent me want $2000 upfront by October 6th, which is more than 1/2 my monthly income. I’m asking for a bit more to cover court fees and support with transportation if necessary. Thank you for your support and care!

About me:

Hi! I’m Ezra (he/him). I’m a queer gender, neurodivergent trans man, a drag queen, and a housing case manager and advocate for queer youth experiencing homelessness. I have a sweetie spouse who’s unemployed at the moment, and a beautiful rescue dog named Fig.

What happened?

I left for Wisconsin in a hurry because my friend's car broke down and he needed a ride home. I got pulled over for speeding, and ended up getting charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia. I will spare the details as I have an active criminal case against me.

Why can’t I use a public attorney?

I do not qualify for a public attorney in Wisconsin. They make you apply for one, and eligibility is based on income. I also applied for a court appointed attorney, which is up to the judges discretion, and I was denied.

Other options?

Nonprofits and pro-bono work do not extend to criminal defense, at least not the resources I found in Wisconsin. If you know otherwise, please share your resources! I did a long search.