CAEGI 0003 November Ads 2022x250

Kenosha County Eye

Kenosha Violent Felon Requesting Pardon From Tony Evers Won’t Take Down Fabricated Endorsements

Share
Tweet
Sharmain Harris, 32 of Kenosha

***Edit. Harris removed the fake endorsements. As of 8:51am CST, the endorsements have been taken down after our story ran***

Paid Advertisement

The Crimes

We told you last November about Sharmain Harris. He’s a multiple felon that has earned the favor of many local democrat politicians like Michael Graveley (D) and Judge Mary K. Wagner (D). His criminal convictions are recent and very violent.

Paid Advertisement

While a juvenile, Sharmain was convicted of Burglary and given 1 year of probation which ended in 2007. We don’t know the details because the records are sealed.

In 2009, Sharmain was charged with 3 felonies for selling crack. He was a drug dealer and sold real and fake crack to a confidential informant. He plead guilty to two of the felonies as part of a plea deal. Wagner gave him probation. This is very unusual.

Paid Advertisement

Later in 2009, in a gangland attack, according to the victim, Harris beat a man with a baseball bat, and threw a brick though the window of the man’s home, shattering it.  This brick hit a woman in the stomach. Police charged Sharmain with 4 felonies and 2 misdemeanors. He was facing 29 years behind bars. Michael Graveley’s office and Judge Wagner gave him an unbelievable plea deal and he got more probation. No prison.

Like everyone expected, he wasn’t done with crime. In 2011 Sharmain’s ex-girlfriend told police he kicked down the door of her house house. He then shouted “Where’s my shit?!” She said he was looking for his drugs. Her 5-year-old daughter was present for this interaction. He then grabbed her by the neck and strangled her so she could not breath. He dragged her around the house. He stole $600 from her wallet. He was charged with felony strangulation and suffocation, battery, criminal damage to property and theft – all with repeater status. He was facing more than 18 years behind bars. Graveley’s office and Wagner allowed Harris to plead guilty to the theft, criminal damage to property and battery. They dismissed the felony. Believe it or not, no jail time. The department of corrections, however did revoke the probation and Wagner sentenced him to 3 years in prison. Sharmain didn’t worry though, Graveley would be coming to the rescue soon enough. Judge Wagner would send letters back and forth with Harris congratulating him on his graduation and other inappropriate communications while he was in prison. Graveley and Wagner modified his sentence in 2016.

Paid Advertisement

The Pardon Application

On March 9, 2020, Harris applied for a pardon from Governor Tony Evers. Harris broke most of the rules in his application. He applied too early – you have to wait until 5 years have passed after your sentence is complete. He wasn’t eligible until February of 2021. He also tried to pull a fast one on his application. He only attached his judgements of conviction. He didn’t attach the criminal complaints as clearly described in the rules. The complaints give the specific details of the crime. They look much worse than looking only at the convictions. He also didn’t list his misdemeanor convictions. The Governor’s office made him send in the complaints, which he later did.

In his application he states in part:

“Between 2008 and 2010 my life was chaotic. I was pulled over many times for traffic violation (sic). I received minor weed tickets. I was arrested and let go many times. I was also held on probation holds where my name was mentioned but nothing came of it. Those were definitely my worst years.”

Ever since Harris was released from prison, he did the minimum to build up his “pardon resume”. He started some organizations for Dads and finished college. He wants a pardon to run for Alderman in Kenosha. If pardoned, he would be able to hold public office and legally carry a gun. Will Kenosha really benefit from this man holding elected office and being able to carry a gun in public? Most of Evers’ pardons thus far have been dated and non-violent, so without Graveley and Wagner working behind the scenes, he will most likely have no chance of a pardon.

Fake Endorsements on Website

Harris has his own website to self-promote. On the splash page, he lists his endorsements:

Screenshot from Harris’s Website

Here’s the thing – we know 6 of these 8 are fake, and the other two wouldn’t comment. We reached out to all 8 organizations and this is what they told us.

WIC and Wisconsin Department of Children and Families: Director Kari Malone told us “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The WIC program does not endorse anyone and we have asked Mr. Harris to remove our logo and any reference that might indicate an endorsement by the program from his website. (4-9-2021)

Kenosha Unified School District and Early Head Start: KUSD Chief Communication Officer Tanya Ruder told us “We have reached out to Mr. Harris twice to find out who provided him permission to note KUSD as endorsing him because we are unaware of this happening. We have not yet heard back.” (3-29-2021)

Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA): Director Todd Battle was not eager to talk to us, but then relented and told us in part: “KABA hosted an event a few years ago where there was a discussion/interview with DA Mike Graveley and Sharmain”… “Not sure how this amounts to an endorsement” (3-31-2021)

Wisconsin County Human Service Association: Director Katie Davis told us: “WCHSA has not endorsed Harris or his services.” (4-9-2021)

Carthage College President John Swallow would not comment either way after repeated attempts to get a comment.

LMI Packaging would not comment.

As if the time of publication, these 8 endorsements are all still up on Harris’ website. We stand by our opinion that violent felons like Harris shouldn’t be pardoned. They also shouldn’t lie about endorsements to help in their quest.

We told Harris we were running a story about the endorsements and asked him for comment and/or clarification. He simply responded, “run it”.

We did.

Author

  • Kevin Mathewson

    Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

Share
Tweet
LATEST NEWS

Carthage Students Protest Embattled Carthage President John Swallow’s Handling Of Sexual Assault

A Kenosha man named Cortez L. Newman was recently arrested and charged with second degree seuxal assault. If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for up to 40 years. According to the criminal complaint, the assault happened on August 20, 2023. Newman is alleged to have raped a woman and the details are so gruesome, that KCE will not be sharing them here. The victim sought medical treatment on September 6, 2023, and had a

Read More »

Feel-Good Friday – A Kenosha Judge Who Shows Kindness Everyday

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge, The Honorable Anthony Milisauskas graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago School of Law in 1983, and was admitted into the Wisconsin bar in 1984. Judge Milisauskas was born and raised in Kenosha. Judge Milisauskas opened a law office and worked for himself until 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he was a Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner and a guardian ad litem. He was also a Somers Municipal Judge from 2000-2005.

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

County Executive Hires Woman Fired For Fraud, Under Criminal Investigation

County Executive Samantha Kerkman isn’t answering any questions about a very risky hire she made a few months ago – Sherry Kruse. Kruse is the County’s new Veterans Benefits Representative. Before County Executive Samantha Kerkman hired her for the important role, she worked for the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County as its Assistant Superintendent. According to her personnel file, released by VACLC by means of a F.O.I.A. request, she had been in extremely hot water

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Announces Bid for Mayor

Elizabeth Garcia quipped Kenosha is her hobby, saying “I wish it were my job!” A workingmother who uses her free time towards bettering our city, Garcia has announced her bid forMayor of Kenosha. Enthusiastic and determined Garcia asserts, “ I am solution oriented: when Isee a problem, I try to fix it. If I can’t fix it, I find out who can. I want Kenoshans to know theirtax dollars are being used in meaningful ways; I

Read More »

Kenosha College Student Thanks Lawyer For Her Recent Exoneration For Charges Related To Near-Deadly Crash

On May 19, 2023, Marissa Chon was doing what many college students do on a Friday night – drinking alcohol with friends. She was with her then-boyfriend, Elijah J. Schoffstall, a Carthage soccer player. At about 2:21 am, the two were involved in a serious car wreck at Carthage College, a school where they both attended. Both were severely injured and were lucky to survive. Police and bystanders quickly arrived at the scene of the crash

Read More »

Kenosha Judge Eviscerates First Amendment In Bizarre Ruling – Opinion

Circuit Court Judges like David Wilk (D) can’t change the first amendment, no matter how much they hate it. It’s part of our great Constitution and there are many layers of the judiciary above the circuit coirt that work as checks and balances. That doesn’t mean that they can’t try, however. That’s exactly what David Wilk tried to do in an oral/written ruling from this past Monday. Let’s start with Judge Wilk’s beginning. Wilk attended Hamline

Read More »

Embattled Director Of Women’s Shelter Drops Lawsuit That Was Allegedly Filed Illegally

The embattled director of Women and Children’s Horizons dropped a lawsuit yesterday, two weeks after it was filed, and only 10 days after KCE published an article alleging she was practicing law without a license. According to a 8-count findings document outlining an investigation into misconduct, Paine was disbarred May 20, 2023. The documents says in part, “After proceedings conducted pursuant to [Michigan Supreme Court Rules], the panel found, based on [Paine’s] admissions to all of the

Read More »

Man Who Escaped Kenosha Prison In July Captured In Milwaukee County, Was In Possession of Firearm

On July 26, 2023 a State Prison inmate named Parish Eckford escaped from a Kenosha Prison. This is a State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections Facility and not associated with the Sheriff’s Department jail. Eckford was serving a 16-year prison sentence for the following convictions in Milwaukee Circuit Court: Eckford was scheduled to be released the month he escaped. He previously served 5 years for armed Robbery. The prison, is a minimum security prison that is

Read More »

4 Responses

  1. This story does not suprise me . Given Mr Gravley sympathies for organizations that would be in line with this gentleman’s life style.
    It is promising that Judge Wagner is retiring.
    Perhaps the Judge that takes her place will
    Actually enforce the law instead of a social agenda.

  2. Not that this is of the relevance, but who is joe cardnilli and is he in office as well? His posts like bergs are very unprofessional. I just don’t know how else to ask without commenting on this

  3. Another fine example of the corrupt dynamic in the politics and so-called “Justice System” in our little sick gentrified hamlet on the lake! When are Gravely and Wagner ever getting investigated for their crimes???

    By the by, I’m also waiting to hear whatever came of our esteemed crocodile teared district attorney’s unprofessional correspondence with the terrorist co-founder of BLM…I recall things getting heated up!…in the form of numerous acts of arson!!!!

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.