(Various Sheriffs Departments)
Kenosha, Wis. — A 24-year-old Salem man with a long history of criminal charges was sentenced to just two years in prison last month after pleading guilty to multiple felonies tied to a 2021 high-speed chase that endangered motorists and law enforcement in Fond du Lac County.
Trenton Benjamin Kmiec, the son of local attorney and ousted politician, Theodore “Ted” Kmiec, appeared before Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Tricia Walker on Feb. 25, 2025. Walker accepted a plea deal negotiated by District Attorney Eric Toney—himself a failed candidate for Wisconsin Attorney General—that significantly reduced Kmiec’s potential prison exposure.
Kmiec pleaded guilty to second-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing and eluding an officer, OWI and operating a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a felony criminal damage to property charge. He faced up to 21 years in prison, but received a two-year sentence.
The November 2021 incident began when a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop Kmiec for erratic driving near U.S. Highway 45. Kmiec led officers on a dangerous 25-minute pursuit spanning more than 22 miles, reaching speeds up to 80 mph. According to the criminal complaint, he swerved into oncoming traffic, fishtailed through a farm field, blew through stop signs, and tore through residential yards—all while high and armed with a loaded Glock 17 pistol.
Deputies discovered two buprenorphine patches on Kmiec, empty bottles of Tramadol and Cyclobenzaprine in his vehicle, and a chalky residue in his nostrils consistent with drug use. A drug recognition expert concluded he was under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant. Despite the presence of a loaded firearm, an extended 30-round magazine, and significant property damage—including $8,000 in destroyed trees and fencing—the court signed off on the plea agreement.
This leniency drew sharp criticism from observers who note Kmiec’s growing record of legal troubles across multiple counties. He’s currently being held on a $250,000 cash bail and may face revocation of probation in several ongoing cases.
Kmiec’s name has appeared frequently in local court records and news reports. In January, he was charged with 58 felonies, including alleged child sex crimes. That case remains pending. In other incidents, judges have repeatedly opted for probation and the Racine DA and Fond du Lac DA declined to pursue felony bail jumping charges, sparking concern about preferential treatment due to Kmiec’s family ties.
Over the past two years, Kmiec has been charged in at least five separate felony cases, including allegations of physically injuring a high school-aged girlfriend, violating court orders to stay away from underage girls, and repeated drug-related offenses. Despite this, he has often avoided significant jail time.
As Kmiec begins serving his sentence in the Fond du Lac case, prosecutors in Kenosha and other counties may soon have their say. But with a history of plea deals and light sentences, critics are watching closely to see whether accountability will finally catch up to him.
25 Responses
Lock him up even longer DA Solis
Good thing this dudes not a brother.
Sounds about white.
The leniency will end here.
As long as he can’t get drugs in prison he just might live to see another decade.
The wisconsin prison system is full of drugs just running rampant. Security cant keep under control.
Whether it’s a Democrat (Michael Graveley) or a Republican (Eric Toney) handing down light sentences, the good Good Ole Boys Club apparently knows no bounds when it comes to punishment for Kmiec.
On the contrary, there seems to be enormous boundaries for disciplining them. They must have pictures of every person with any kind of power, doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. Can anyone tell me a theory that makes more sense then people that are terrified that this family will out them for something?
This guy is why there should be no plea deals, no treating with kit gloves, no favoritism. He learned nothing. He got worse and kept committing crimes. And the drug use continued and was condoned, as usual. This guy belongs behind bars for a long, long time. This allowing criminal behaviors, promoting crie and drug abuse needs to end. Hopefully Solis will put him away, that’s if there is any integrity left in the Kenosha Co. judicial system, which really is questionable.
Count 1 – 2 years initial confinement – 2 years Extended Supervision
Count 2- 3 years Probation, withheld sentence- Consecutive to Count 1
1 year revocation of license
Count 4- 1 year Probation, withheld sentence- Consecutive to Count 1 but concurrent to Count 2
So, actually, he has a four year imposed sentence with two years inside. If he screws up, he can be returned for up to the remaining two years.
Then he’s on probation for three years and could face more time if he screws up. (In his case, maybe when instead of if.)
So, it’s not entirely accurate to say he only got two years when he has a bunch of time hanging over his head.
Rare that someone gets sent back on probation/parole. And with “good time” and any credit days he already has, he will serve less than 2 years in prison.
Good time was eliminated as part of Gov. Thompson’s “Truth In Sentencing”
This is so very false. Wisconsin has a ridiculously high revocation and reincarnation rate.
SO … it’s Wisconsin where so many dead people are turning into dogs and cats …..
Don’t kid yourself. No one gets their probation revoked anymore. DOC is a joke under Tony Evers.
That time shouldn’t be just hanging over his head, it should be ordered in reality. The fact that it wasn’t, shows that there isn’t real Justice against this person and we need to know the reasons why.
It’s who your daddy is that gives you a light sentence. Shitty judges not protecting citizens, but drug idiots instead.
How? I mean how is this remotely acceptable at all in the judicial process? This is absolutely disgraceful and disgusting.
Flush it down already.
Really !?!
What is it about Ted Kmiec that his kid gets off with light or no jail time ??
Someone please explain
Blackmail? Mutual aid society?
I thought several women were also found dead in his house from drugs?
He didn’t do it
I think two years is likely not enough time to address his huge drug problem. It takes a good 18 months of hard work for many addicts to reach acceptable sobriety but that is with a lot of motivation, aggressive treatment and hard work. I don’t see that from the young Mr. Kmiec.
Well atleast going to jail he shouldn’t overdose! Clean up his body and jail just might save his life!
You think people can’t OD where he’s going? HA!
Exactly! There is fentanyl, K2, meth, all kinds of drugs running rampant in prison. They just narcan them and send them to the ER. Its very seldom that they dont make it! I work there and see it all the time. There is narcan on every unit just in case of an overdose.