We told you about the three radical progressives that were arrested on April 25, 2021 during a “sit in”. A local “pastor” named Jonathan Barker, a former Somers Trustee, Joe Cardinali and Justin Blake, the uncle of Jacob Blake were arrested for blocking the entrance to the 24-hour public safety building. Jacob Blake is the man that was shot by Kenosha Police while resisting arrest for a felony sexual assault warrant . The Kenosha Sheriff’s department recommended that each be criminally charged with disorderly conduct and for Blake, an additional charge of obstruction. He refused to give his name to police after he was arrested. Refusing to give your name to police isn’t illegal unless you have been arrested, like Blake was.
Like embattled Kenosha DA Mike Graveley does often, he asked Kenosha Chief Judge Jason Rossell to appoint a special prosecutor on this case. Graveley cited WI SS. 978.045(1r)(bm)8. which states:
The district attorney determines that a conflict of interest exists regarding the district attorney or the district attorney staff.
Walworth County DA Zeke Wiedenfeld was selected as the special prosecutor. Remember, Zeke Wiedenfeld is the prosecutor that dismissed the felony sexual assault charge against Jacob Blake.
(Photo Courtesy of Optic Light Photography)
In this case, DA Wiedenfeld and his Deputy, James Sempf decided not to charge either of the three protestors that blocked access to the police departments. Instead, they wrote tickets to Cardinali and Barker. They both skipped out on their court dates and were found guilty of non-criminal ordinance violations and were fined $150. Justin Blake told the Kenosha News that he was called by Michael Graveley and told the charges were dropped. We verified this call was in fact made by means of a public records request. Graveley called Blake on April 27, 2021 at 9:25am to Blake’s (773) Chicago area-code cell phone. We obtained other public records from the Walworth DA. We learned that Graveley emailed Wiedenfeld 14 minutes after he called Blake and asked Wiedenfeld to return the bond money to the person who posted it, Tanya McClean. McClean is a far left one-time-failed aldermanic candidate. Wiedenfeld responded to Graveley’s email with “Thank you!”
It appears that Blake was telling the truth and Graveley told him that there were no charges forthcoming. On June 22, 2021, more than two weeks after Cardinali was cited, Blake was finally cited, for disorderly conduct only. We were in the courtroom today and Blake was a no-show.
(Photo Courtesy of Optic Light Photography)
Kenosha Court Commissioner Donald Mayhew found Blake guilty in abesntia. He was sentenced to a $150 fine. Deneen Smith, ultra-liberal reporter for the Kenosha News caught up with Sempf after the hearing and asked him what a default judgement was. Not a typical question for a journalist of her tenure. He politely explained to her that meant he was found guilty by default because he didn’t show up to court. She didn’t ask him any tough questions. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t ask him what type of ice cream he liked. We, however did ask him a tough question:
“Why didn’t you charge any of these men like the Sheriff asked you to?”
He responded with “I could have charged them criminally, but decided not to.”
Not a really good answer.
We previously asked Wiedenfeld if his pro-BLM beliefs affected his decision to take it easy on the Blakes and other men. He refused to comment.
Opinion:
Three crybaby radical progressives demanded that a police officer who was exonerated be fired. He wasn’t, so they blocked the entrance to the public safety building. The County had to pay overtime to Deputies to keep the peace on April 25. The three men were warned many times to move or they would be arrested. They didn’t move. They were arrested. Who knows how many tax-payers didn’t file reports that night, because they were denied access to the building?
Graveley recused himself on this case. Yet he still told the Walworth DA what to do. He wanted to be the HERO by telling Blake that no charges were coming. This backfired. Blake now might have a lawsuit. The Walworth DA also should be ashamed that he was bullied by Graveley to give these three men breaks. We deserve better.
2 Responses
Black Lives Matter sympathizer Mike Gravely should now be classified as a Terrorist Sponsor.
He obviously has no respect for rule of law and I call for his resignation. Mike Gravely, you are a worthless, despicable, and spineless person undeserving of the position you hold.
Meh, I don’t have an issue with this actually. These three clowns want just that…..more press.
Graveley just wants to get rid of these fools ASAP because they already have taken more than their share of 15 minutes of fame.
Blake is old news.