(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha Unified School District “Bilingual Community Liaison” and former School Board Member, Tony Garcia, was terminated by the Kenosha School District from his job at Indian Trail High School. On November 14, 2024, he was placed on administrative leave. On November 22, 2024, Garcia was terminated.
There was also a police investigation conducted by a Kenosha police detective which yielded probable cause for at least one criminal charge of disorderly conduct.
According to Garcia’s letter of termination, “Of most concern were your actions taken towards three female students who attend Indian Trail High School and Academy. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that you touched one student without their permission on the arm, that you told one student she smelled nice and then smelled her hair. It was also revealed that you told one of the students that she was beautiful and that if you were her age, you would date her. You admitted that you often give students money to go get something to eat from the cafeteria and that you had given one student $300 cash… The actions you took towards these students is seen as ‘grooming’ behavior, a behavior that is adamantly prohibited by the district… In accordance with the discipline process outlined in the KUSD Employee Handbook, Section 7: Employee Conduct, Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Action, your employment with KUSD is being terminated effective immediately.”
KUSD also wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In the letter it is written “Mr. Garcia bought several students lunch, told female students that they smelled nice and that he was in love with them. Gave one female student $300… While the position that Mr. Garcia held with the district was not subject to any statutory requirements, the district would like to ensure, given Mr. Garcia’s gross misconduct, that he not be eligible for hire in any other school district in the state of Wisconsin.”
In Garcia’s personnel file, many female students wrote statements about Garcia’s alleged conduct. One student wrote in her statement that Garcia told her that she was “beautiful” and he could see why her boyfriend fell in love with her because she is such a beautiful girl. She said this made her very uncomfortable and she started crying. She wrote in her statement that Garcia sniffed her hair and told her she smelled nice.
Another female student wrote in her statement that Garcia was supposed to do a house visit. She wrote that Garcia encouraged her to break up with her boyfriend and that Garcia loved her.
A third girl wrote in her report that Garcia leaned into her and sniffed her hair and it made her uncomfortable. She wrote that he put his arm on her arm without her permission.
Another girl wrote in her statement that Garcia gave her $4 for lunch, unsolicited. He also told her that when she graduated he would be there with a big thing of flowers. She asked him if he was serious and he said “of course, this is a big accomplishment. I’m proud.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KCE contacted Mike Graveley (D), Kenosha County’s outgoing DA. We asked him if his office will be charging this case, or if he will send it to a neighboring community. He refused comment.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Garcia has worked for many schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. Garcia served one term on the Kenosha Unified School District and decided to not seek re-election. He later ran again and lost. He also unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Kenosha this year. He is a seasonal employee of the City’s department of public works.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KCE also made contact with mayor Bogdala. We asked him if these allegations would have an affect on Garcia’s City employment. Bogdala didn’t care to comment. He and Garcia are friends. Garcia even endorsed Bogdala for mayor.
Kenosha’s City Administrator John Morrissey did speak with us and told us that Garcia isn’t a current employee of the City and as with all seasonal employees, he would need to apply for the job next year. Asked if charges and/or convictions would play a role in Garcia’s re-hiring, Morrissey said it would depend on the severity and nature of the convictions, if any occur.
Once there is a decision to charge Garcia or not, you’ll read it here first.
47 Responses
What a disgusting piece of s.
Scum. Karma will catch up to this piece of filth
There is no good reason for city administrator Morrissey to not hire Garcia back. Morrissey served as the Chief of Police and was hired as the city administrator all while holding a fake college degree.
It seems Garcia’s lack of integrity would also not be a barrier to employment.
Bogdala still keeps him a city administrator most likely in over $200,000 a year. With a fake ID. It says something about Bagdala.
Sorry a fake college degree. You can print one on the internet these days. It was proven that John Morrissey has a fake college degree.
Like John Steinbrink JR. He had someone else do his test for him. That’s how he got his Engineering Degree. Then got paid thousands of dollars more than he should have gotten because w/o that “degree” he wouldn’t have gotten the job working for his Dad at Pleasant Prairie. Both of them should of had to pay that difference back to Pleasant Prairie residents. I wonder what kind of nonsense JS Senior is up to ripping off PP people! He needs to go!
Steinbrink and crew have used Unpleasant Prairie as there free money machine for decades. Why would Steinbrink and Polloncoff stay on village board for over 30 years? hint for the money $$$$ Now they are pushing for Klimisch for village president he is part of the problem so more of back room deals moving forward.
So disgusting preying on young girls. I hope the parents of these girls put the pressure on the DA to charge him.
Is Garcia a conservative or a libtard? It doesn’t specify in this piece.
He sniffs young girls’ hair.
Who does that bring to mind?
‘Nuff said.
Joe Biden
And this makes a difference why???
Ones political preference has a barring? One would think that is small minded thinking.
There is an R next to Bogdalas name and a D next to Gravely. And Garcia has run for multiple public offices. It matters.
Which one ?
Because libs are pedo loving scum.
Does it matter! Scum is scum
He didn’t rape anyone so he can’t be a Republican.
Democrat
Preying on young girls, because he’s
probably deathly afraid of mature women.
Birds of a feather, flock and rape together. A bunch of perverts living in the non-united states of Israel USI.
Watch out for the Cartel .
Q: Do you know who’s not living in the non-united states of Israel USI?
A: One less lazy dead-beat father scam artist
I wonder if this “termination” will change into a resignation like other KUSD employees have had done for them.
KUSD let all the others resign instead of terminating them! This is the first time that they have actually terminated a groomer!! All others were allowed to resign.
I’m sure with all these cases and Kevin’s great reporting to the public, they figured that they need to start terminating these so-called teachers! He is also the first one that they sent a letter asking that he not be allowed to teach in any Wisconsin school. KUSD is under a lot of scrutiny and I’m sure they only did this, because they want their referendum to pass in the Spring so they can update the security in the schools due to the guns that students were able to get into the school!!
Now if our DA Gravely would do his job and file charges, we will be all set to get this perv off the streets!!
Okay, I know Tony personally and he is an arrogant piece of sh*t. I agree with KUSD terminating him, but can’t see how any of his behavior is criminal. Hardly doubt there will be criminal charges for smelling a minors hair, making inappropriate comments or giving them money.
Thankfully he was terminated by KUSD and won’t be able to work at any other schools in Wisconsin.
Poor kids have to deal with things like this, and kids who bring loaded guns to school and don’t get charged as adults, even after posting threats towards other students on social media. What ever happened to any further information on the gun at Indian trail a few weeks ago?
It’s because the kpd wants the report and body camera footage hidden because it will make them look bad. Simple answer why there are no adult charges on this 16 year old, but there were in one day on the middle school kid with fake guns…..
When I was in high school many teachers gave me money for lunch where my parents were unemployed. I would buy a stranger lunch all the time if they would need money. He was a liaison working with most challenged students. If you made stupid commas like that that’s wrong. But I don’t think it’s criminal either. Deserves to lose his job though.
Would a teacher give you $300.00?
I gave $300 to a teacher
Gives money, sniffs hair, touches minors and tells them he loves them. Nothing to see here.
Unfortunately, schools are candy shops for these types of creeps. Kenosha has had too many shoppers lately.
Another sick pos! He should NEVER have a job around kids! He may only get a fine but this negative attention will always stick with him in Kenosha. Probably time to move Tony!
Another KUSD scumBAG..He can now qualify for the superintent job .. Or the scam Mahone Fund ..
KUSD loves hiring pedos.
All you people need to remember that Tony is innocent until proven guilty. I also know Tony and he may have questionable humor, but I don’t believe that he is a child groomer or molester.
So far he hasn’t been charged with “grooming “ or “molesting”. He is a person who was raised in another country. A place where social distancing is very different than here.
There is no crime committed here, so won’t have a chance to be proven innocent. But this behavior is unacceptable and no employer would tolerate, so the termination is definitely warranted.
OK groomer.
Hi
“KUSD also wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In the letter it is written “Mr. Garcia bought several students lunch, told female students that they smelled nice and that he was in love with them. Gave one female student $300… While the position that Mr. Garcia held with the district was not subject to any statutory requirements, the district would like to ensure, given Mr. Garcia’s gross misconduct, that he not be eligible for hire in any other school district in the state of Wisconsin.”
While KUSD appears to have taken a hard stand on employee discipline the wording plainly states statutory requirements do not apply.
Only time will tell if Mr. Garcia is truly barred from working in Wisconsin’s public school system.
I don’t believe this is legal.
I’d never go around sniffing coworkers and telling them they smell good- but until there is a statute called “grooming” or something close these stories are all
Speculative and interpretative without even seeing an actual investigation.
we are from a different country. This is how we help kids there.
It is deeply concerning that another person in a position of trust has been accused of grooming students within our county, particularly targeting those for whom English is a second language. This situation is especially egregious given the vulnerability of these students. The Unified School District authorities must provide a thorough explanation of this incident, and based on their findings, appropriate actions should be taken, including possible termination of employment and criminal prosecution if warranted.
Great job KM
They already did…. That’s the information that’s cited here….
I met Tony several years ago when he was a liaison within the KUSD. Never saw him do any grooming, but he was arrogant and seemed like I guy you couldn’t trust.
All this evidence proves is Garcia is a prime democrat prospect.