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Q&A With Twin Lakes’ New District Administrator Ryan Berndt

TWIN LAKES, Wis. — Kenosha County Eye recently reached out to Ryan Berndt, the new District Administrator and Principal of Twin Lakes School District #4, commonly known as Lakewood School, with a series of questions intended to introduce the district’s new leader to parents, taxpayers and the community. About Mr. BerndtAccording to his biography published by Lakewood School, Berndt says his primary focus is building a “vibrant and supportive school community” where students and staff are inspired to reach their full potential. He says he wants to increase student engagement through interactive learning experiences, expand school-day and extracurricular programming and challenge students academically. Berndt’s biography also portrays him as an administrator who enjoys interacting directly with students. He says he can be found playing four-square or basketball with students at

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Pleasant Prairie Man Charged With Five Felony Cocaine Deliveries After Months-Long KPD Investigation, $35,000 Cash Bail Set

Amir Pickersgill, 47, of Pleasant Prairie(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Pleasant Prairie man accused of selling cocaine to a confidential source during five controlled buys was formally charged Friday with five felony drug-delivery counts and ordered held on $35,000 cash bail. Amir Pickersgill, 47, of Pleasant Prairie(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Woman Accused Of Biting, Punching Boyfriend During Domestic Dispute Released On No-Cash Bail

Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, WI — Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha, was charged Friday with misdemeanor battery-domestic abuse and disorderly conduct-domestic abuse after police say a dispute with her boyfriend turned physical. Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum released Reed on no-cash bail during her initial appearance Friday afternoon. Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Chicago Man Acquitted Of Seven Charges In Kenosha Jury Trial

KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha County jury acquitted Wayne A. Claudio Jr., 27, of Chicago, of seven charges Thursday after a three-day jury trial stemming from allegations that he violently attacked a woman inside her Kenosha apartment. Claudio left court without a single guilty verdict after jurors rejected all five felony charges against him along with two misdemeanors. Claudio was represented by Kenosha defense attorney Robert Keller during the trial before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Jason Rossell. Assistant District Attorney Morgan Millar prosecuted the case for the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office. The state called the woman and three Kenosha police officers before resting its case, and Claudio later testified in his own defense. The case dated back to Nov. 16, 2024, when Kenosha police were dispatched shortly after

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Pleasant Prairie Man Charged With Five Felony Cocaine Deliveries After Months-Long KPD Investigation, $35,000 Cash Bail Set

Amir Pickersgill, 47, of Pleasant Prairie(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Pleasant Prairie man accused of selling cocaine to a confidential source during five controlled buys was formally charged Friday with five felony drug-delivery counts and ordered held on $35,000 cash bail. Amir Pickersgill, 47, of Pleasant Prairie(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Woman Accused Of Biting, Punching Boyfriend During Domestic Dispute Released On No-Cash Bail

Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, WI — Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha, was charged Friday with misdemeanor battery-domestic abuse and disorderly conduct-domestic abuse after police say a dispute with her boyfriend turned physical. Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum released Reed on no-cash bail during her initial appearance Friday afternoon. Abigail M. Reed, 24, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Sentenced In Four Criminal Cases Allegedly Threatens Wife From Courtroom Moments Later: “I Will Get Out Eventually, Just Remember That”

Mario Aceto Jr., 55, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 55-year-old Kenosha man was sentenced Monday morning in four separate criminal cases involving threats, child neglect, bail jumping and domestic abuse, receiving a combined 405 days in the Kenosha County Jail and two separate one-year terms of probation, with the jail sentences ordered consecutively. According to prosecutors, Mario Aceto Jr. then turned toward his wife while still inside the courtroom and allegedly threatened her almost immediately after learning his punishment. Mario Aceto Jr., 55, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Kenosha County To Host Open House For Restored Historic Ceremonial Courtroom Oct. 4

KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County will open the doors of its newly restored Ceremonial Courtroom to the public Sunday, Oct. 4, offering residents a chance to see the historic space following a major restoration project completed this summer. The free open house will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kenosha County Courthouse and is being held in conjunction with the Kenosha Community Foundation’s 100th anniversary celebration. At 1:30 p.m., visitors will also be treated to a performance of “Lovers of Liberty,” an original musical composition created specifically to tell the story of the courtroom. “The restored courtroom is a breathtaking space that we’re excited to share with the public,” a County Spokesperson said. “It’s a project that would not have happened without the support of the community, and

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Twin Lakes Man Convicted Of Felony Fourth OWI Gets 5 Days In Jail, 175 Days Work Release

Alex T. Christopherson, 59, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Alex T. Christopherson, 59, of Twin Lakes, was convicted Friday of felony fourth-offense OWI and sentenced by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson to five days in jail followed by 175 days of work release. Christopherson pleaded guilty to the Class H felony, and the parties stipulated that his blood-alcohol concentration was .162. The sentence continues what KCE has repeatedly described as Kenosha County’s soft approach to repeat drunk driving: “It’s OK here in Kenosha County.” Wisconsin law carries a mandatory minimum of 60 days imprisonment for a fourth OWI, but defendants can be granted Huber work-release privileges, allowing them to leave confinement for employment. Wisconsin law also gives sheriffs authority to place jail inmates on

Legally Her Third OWI, But Fourth OWI Conviction: Woman Whose Second OWI Injured Another Driver Gets 200 Days of Work Release From Liberal Judge Jason Rossell

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 49-year-old Kenosha woman whose latest drunken-driving case was originally charged as her fourth OWI was convicted Thursday of OWI third offense and sentenced to 200 days in jail with Huber work-release privileges by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Jason Rossell, a liberal. Rossell is very soft on crime, especially with repeat OWI drivers. Sarai N. Gilmore pleaded guilty Thursday, Sept. 24, to OWI third offense. Rossell sentenced her to 200 days in the Kenosha County Jail, gave her credit for three days already served and authorized Huber privileges “for any proper purpose.” Gilmore was taken into custody from court. Although the conviction is legally classified as OWI third offense, the criminal complaint filed against Gilmore last year identified three previous OWI-related convictions before the Sept. 20,

New Charges For Tremper Teacher Who Allegedly Struck School Bus While Drunk, Back In Court Today; 5 Of 7 School Board Members Now Have ‘Egg On Their Faces’

KENOSHA, Wis. — When a teacher is accused of being drunk at school and then striking a school bus filled with children, most parents might expect their school board to fire that teacher. That isn’t what happened in Kenosha. Five liberal members of the Kenosha Unified School District School Board opposed firing Tremper teacher Casey John Cushman, while only two supported his termination, according to sources familiar with the board’s discussions — and now those five have “egg on their faces,” as one KUSD parent put it. Cushman, 42, of Kenosha, was back in court Thursday on an entirely new criminal case, this time charged with violating a harassment restraining order and misdemeanor bail jumping. “Why do the liberal Democrat board members think they need to defend every reject teacher?

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Allegedly Intoxicated Chicago Man Accused Of Two Police Chases, Endangering I-94 Construction Workers Gets $50,000 Cash Bail

Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Jonathan J. Hammond, 31, of Chicago, was charged Thursday with two counts of felony fleeing or eluding an officer, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and resisting an officer, all as a repeater. Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum set Hammond’s bail at $50,000 cash during his initial appearance Thursday afternoon. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 9:45 a.m. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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$100,000 Cash Bail Set For Kenosha Man Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography

Gregory Matthew Skripsky, 38, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Gregory Matthew Skripsky, 38, of Kenosha, was charged Thursday with two felony counts of possession of child pornography. Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum set Skripsky’s bail at $100,000 cash during his initial appearance Thursday afternoon. District Attorney Xavier Solis appeared for the state and attorney Francesco Balistrieri appeared with Skripsky. Gregory Matthew Skripsky, 38, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Man Accused Of Choking Girlfriend After She Found Him Naked With Another Woman

Bryan K. Riley, 61, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 61-year-old Kenosha man is facing a felony domestic abuse charge after police say he choked his girlfriend during an argument Wednesday after she allegedly found him naked in a bathroom with another woman. Bryan K. Riley, 61, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Woman Gets Two Months Jail, Three Months Work Release For Third OWI Crash

Faith S. Taylor, 29, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 29-year-old Kenosha woman was sentenced Wednesday to two months behind bars followed by three months of work release after pleading guilty to her third drunken-driving offense. Faith S. Taylor, 29, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Judge Sets $5,000 Warrant For Felony Strangulation Suspect; ‘Catch & Release Kellum’ Lets Him Out On No-Cash Bail

Shavonte L. Carey, 28, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Racine man accused of strangling a woman until she could not breathe was arrested Wednesday on a $5,000 warrant issued by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson, only to be released Thursday after Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum replaced the cash warrant with no-cash bail. Shavonte L. Carey, 28, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Judge Gives Fleeing Felon Work Release And Probation; Three Months Later, Back In Jail After Alleged Probation Violations

Marlon Ubence Padilla, 21, of Green Bay(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, WI — A 21-year-old Green Bay man who admitted fleeing law enforcement at speeds estimated as high as 170 mph is back in the Kenosha County Jail after alleged probation violations, just over three months after Judge Jason Rossell withheld a prison sentence and placed him on probation with work release. Marlon Padilla Marlon Padilla You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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20-Year-Old Kenosha Man Accused Of Drunken Crash That Injured Driver, Vomited During OWI Investigation

Pedro Cruz-Jaramillo, 20, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 20-year-old Kenosha man is facing a criminal charge after police say he drove drunk, crashed into another vehicle and injured its driver early Sunday morning. Pedro Cruz-Jaramillo, 20, of Kenosha, is charged with operating while intoxicated causing injury, first offense. Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum placed Cruz-Jaramillo on no-cash bail Thursday afternoon. Pedro Cruz-Jaramillo, 20, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Man Given Probation By Liberal Judge In $20,000 Ulta Theft Case Has Probation Revoked, Now Headed To Prison

Deeavlon D. Riley, 25,of Milwaukee(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Milwaukee man who avoided prison after liberal Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Angelina Gabriele placed him on probation for serious felony convictions is now headed to state prison after that probation was revoked. Deeavlon D. Riley Deeavlon D. Riley You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Fired Beloved Journey Church Pastor’s Brother Speaks Out As Members Raise New Questions About Board, Money And Control

KENOSHA, Wis. — The brother of fired longtime Journey Church Executive Pastor Jon Brown is publicly blasting church leadership over Brown’s termination, accusing the Board of withholding the real reason it fired a pastor who served the church for about 25 years. His comments come as multiple Journey Church members have separately contacted Kenosha County Eye with concerns involving church finances, attempted property sales, membership voting rights, staff firings and what they describe as an effort by church leadership to maintain control. Tim Brown, Jon Brown’s brother, posted a Facebook video Sunday, September 20, saying Journey members have repeatedly demanded an explanation for his brother’s firing. “So my brother got fired after 25 years of service to one church, a mega church, and they didn’t explain why and they won’t

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Kenosha Man Accused Of Sexual Assault, Strangulation And Brutal Domestic Abuse Held On $100,000 Cash Bail

Richard M. Branch, 31, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 31-year-old Kenosha man accused of sexually assaulting, strangling and repeatedly beating Kenosha Man Accused Of Sexual Assault, Putting Gun To Girlfriend And Threatening To ‘Paint My Walls With Your Brain’ Held On $100,000 Cash Bail Richard M. Branch, 31, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Clerk Of Courts Candidate Has History Of Sexual Harassment Concerns Documented Across Two Employers

KENOSHA, Wis. — Brian Sheffler (D), a Kenosha County courthouse employee currently running for Clerk of Circuit Courts, has been the subject of repeated sexual harassment and inappropriate-conduct allegations from women who worked with him, according to interviews conducted by Kenosha County Eye. Employment records obtained by KCE show that while Sheffler worked as Clerk of Municipal Court for the Village of Pleasant Prairie, he was given written sexual-harassment-related workplace guidance in 2017. Years later, after becoming a Kenosha County courthouse employee, Sheffler was required to complete county non-harassment training that specifically included sexual harassment and take a post-test in January 2020. At least six women who have worked inside the Kenosha County Courthouse have described Sheffler’s behavior to KCE or to a courthouse source interviewed by KCE as creepy,

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Lieutenant Under Investigation Over Alleged Inappropriate Messages Resigns; Records Show Prior Sexual Harassment-Related Allegations

Former Kenosha County Sheriff’s Lt. Ryan Markowski KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Sheriff’s Lt. Ryan Markowski resigned from the Sheriff’s Office last week while under internal investigation over inappropriate messages and communications he allegedly sent to other staff members, a source told Kenosha County Eye. KCE has been investigating the circumstances surrounding Markowski’s administrative leave and the nature of the communications since learning about the investigation. Multiple sources familiar with the allegations have told KCE that the communications included unsolicited photographs of Markowski’s penis allegedly sent to Sheriff’s Office employees. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet confirmed the contents of the alleged messages. Kenosha County Sheriff David W. Zoerner (D)(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Annual Fall Wheel Ride To Petrifying Springs Park Set For Saturday

KENOSHA, WI — Bicyclists of all experience levels are invited to take part in Kenosha County’s annual Fall Wheel Ride to Petrifying Springs Park on Saturday, Sept. 26. The ride will begin at 9 a.m. at the Kemper Center, 6501 Third Ave. Riders will travel along the Lake Michigan shoreline before heading west toward Petrifying Springs Park. The route is approximately 7.8 miles each way. The Kenosha/Racine Bike Club will help guide riders along the route, while local law enforcement will assist with traffic control. Once riders arrive at Petrifying Springs Park, Kenosha County Parks will provide a complimentary light breakfast and refreshments at the Petrifying Springs Biergarten. A County Spokesperson said the annual ride is intended to give residents an opportunity to enjoy the county’s lakefront and parks while

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Paddock Lake Man Facing Felony Charges After Allegedly Beating Wife, Kicking In Bathroom Door, Lying To Deputies

Herman D. Hearton Jr., 45, of Paddock Lake(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) PADDOCK LAKE, Wis. — Herman D. Hearton Jr., 45, of Paddock Lake, is facing felony-level domestic abuse charges after prosecutors accused him of beating his wife, damaging a bathroom door while she tried to hide from him and later lying to Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies about what happened. Hearton was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor battery-domestic abuse as a domestic abuse repeater, two counts of disorderly conduct-domestic abuse as a domestic abuse repeater and obstructing an officer as a repeater. Because of the domestic abuse repeater enhancers, the complaint says the misdemeanor domestic abuse charges can be elevated to felonies. Herman D. Hearton Jr., 45, of Paddock Lake(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest

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Burlington Woman Charged With OWI After Deputies Say She Drove With 9-Year-Old, Three Open Wine Bottles In Jeep

Nicole A. Nelson, 40, of Burlington(facebook.com) WHEATLAND, WI — Nicole A. Nelson, 40, of Burlington, was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor operating while intoxicated, first offense, with a child under 16 in the vehicle after Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly found her driving with a 9-year-old passenger and three opened bottles of wine inside her Jeep. Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum found probable cause Wednesday afternoon and released Nelson on no-cash bail. Nicole A. Nelson, 40, of Burlington(facebook.com) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Woman Accused Of Breaking Into Ex’s Home, Chasing Him With Stick And Destroying $2,000 In Property

Deisy Sofienes Sandoval-Zavala, 21, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha woman is accused of breaking into her former boyfriend’s home, chasing him with a wooden stick and destroying about $2,000 worth of his clothing and shoes during a series of domestic incidents this month. Deisy Sofienes Sandoval-Zavala, 21, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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AI Disclosure: Kenosha County Eye may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with spelling, grammar, sentence structure, formatting, and other editorial functions. Reporting, editorial decisions, fact-checking, and published content remain under human oversight.

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