A Kenosha man released on a $15,000 cash bail and a $50,000 cash bail, now has to post another $100,000 cash if he wants to go home. Kevin A. Pursell, 40, of Kenosha was charged Wednesday with 39 additional felonies. Pursell faces hundreds of years in prison if convicted of just some of the charges.

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On June 22, 2024, Pursell was arrested and later charged with Invade Privacy – View/Broadcast/Record Individual’s Genitals, etc. for using a homemade “up-skirt” camera at Kenosha Harbor Market. He was released on a $15,000 cash bail.

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On July 9, 2024, he was re-arrested and later charged with nine counts of possession of child pornography, possession with intent (THC), capturing an intimate representation and invade privacy – use of surveillance device (Victim < 18 years old.) He was released on a $50,000 case bail.

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Tuesday, Pursell was arrested for a third time. Wednesday he was charged with 18 counts of Invade Privacy – View/Broadcast/Record Individual’s Genitals, etc., 15 counts of Capture an Intimate Representation, three counts of Attempt Capture an Intimate Representation, and three more counts of possession of child pornography.

Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Alexis Bauer, in court Wednesday, asked for a $150,000 cash bail citing the seriousness of the allegations, strength of the state’s case, the possible prison time, and the safety of the public as reasons.

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Defense attorney John Anthony Ward did some grandstanding and demanded all charges be dismissed. He made some legal arguments that weren’t based on solid evidence or the law. Commissioner Michel quickly denied the meritless motion.

Commissioner set Pursell’s third bail at $100,000 cash.

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Kenosha Police put out a written statement on Friday afternoon stating:

Kenosha resident, 40-year-old, Kevin Pursell, is in custody after a vendor at Kenosha’s Harbor Market called police on June 22, 2024 at 10:59 a.m. The person reported that Kevin appeared to be using a camera to look up the skirts of women and girls. Officer Matt Elm, a 24-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department, responded to take the complaint. Officer Elm located Kevin in the crowd and found him to be in possession of a small camera that at first glance appeared to be a button from an article of clothing. The video stored on the camera’s memory card led investigators to conduct a search warrant at Kevin’s home, producing evidence that supported Kevin’s initial arrest. A second search warrant of Kevin’s home was led by Det. Pete Deates and his Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K-9 partner, Iris. Det. Deates enlisted the help of Det. Justine Justman and her ESD K-9 partner, Kala, from the Mt. Pleasant Police Department. Both K-9’s located several storage devices that were missed in the initial search warrant by their human counterparts.

This case is a great example of the community and law enforcement coming together. Without the initial phone call from the citizen that saw Kevin acting suspiciously, we may not have known about Kevin’s actions. Kevin is currently charged with multiple counts of invasion of privacy, possession of child pornography, capturing an intimate representation without consent, and one count of possession with intent to deliver THC, all of which are felony charges. Kenosha Human Development Services offers a program called the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which offers survivors a path to reclaim a sense of security and well-being. It provides the tools and care needed to heal and regain control over our lives. For VOCA-related assistance please call KHDS at 262-764-8555. If you require mental health assistance you can call KHDS 24/7 at 262-657-7188.

Detective Tommar Franklin and Detective Sergio Martini are the lead investigators for the above describe case. If you have any information that may assist their investigation please contact the Kenosha Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 262-605-5203.