Father Accused of Negligence After Toddler Hospitalized with THC in System

Copied!
Zachary Alexander Chute, 21, of Kenosha
(Kenosha County Sheriff)

SOMERS, Wis. — A Kenosha man is again in custody after failing to appear in court on a felony child neglect charge connected to a disturbing incident where his 18-month-old daughter was hospitalized and tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Paid Advertisement

Zachary Alexander Chute, 21, was originally charged on May 1, 2024, with one count of child neglect resulting in bodily harm, a Class H felony. The charge followed an April 29, 2024, incident at a home in the Village of Somers that prompted an emergency medical response.

Paid Advertisement

According to the criminal complaint, Kenosha County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. on April 30 after receiving a call about an unresponsive child. They arrived to find the toddler, WMC, lying on her back on a couch in the basement with her eyes and mouth closed, arms bent rigidly at the elbows, jaw clenched, and body twitching slightly. The child was unconscious and unresponsive to stimuli. Family members said she had no history of seizures, allergies, or other medical issues that might explain her condition.

Paid Advertisement

The child was rushed by ambulance to Froedtert South in Pleasant Prairie. While undergoing treatment, medical staff confirmed she had THC in her system.

Paid Advertisement

Deputies spoke with the child’s mother and great-aunt, who reported that Chute, the child’s father, had been caring for her earlier that day while the mother was at work. The mother and Chute share no formal custody arrangement, but they had an informal understanding about visitation. Chute reportedly picked up the child in the early afternoon and took her to his Kenosha apartment.

Paid Advertisement

Later that evening, he brought the toddler to the aunt’s home, where she reportedly began vomiting around 9 p.m. and appeared unusually tired, with “slanted” eyes. Chute placed her in a playpen and left for his overnight job. Around 11:30 p.m., the mother arrived to pick up her daughter and visited with her aunt for nearly an hour before going downstairs to retrieve the child. At that point, the toddler was found unresponsive and in a stiff, abnormal position. 911 was called immediately.

Paid Advertisement

During the investigation, Chute first denied any recent marijuana use, but after being confronted with the test results and a conversation the mother reported having with him, he admitted to using THC more recently than he initially claimed. He also admitted that marijuana products were still in his car and home. Deputies recovered two empty vape cartridges from his vehicle in the hospital parking lot, which Chute acknowledged once contained THC. He also confessed to having marijuana at his residence.

Paid Advertisement

Chute was released after posting a $1,000 bail following his initial court appearance. However, on October 2, 2024, he failed to appear in court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest with an increased bail of $2,500.

He returned to court yesterday, where Court Commissioner William Michel II set a new $2,500 cash bail. As of press time, Chute remains in custody. The Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office asked for a $100,000 cash bail.

Chute faces up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. The felony charge—neglecting a child with resulting bodily harm—requires the prosecution to prove that his negligence led to the child’s exposure to drug use and caused actual harm.

.

.

.

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS
Plus +

DNA Links Illinois Man to 2020 Kenosha Riot Burglary, $50K Bail Set

Erik C. Thomas, 34, of Illinois in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – More than four years after the Kenosha riots of 2020, a 34-year-old man from Illinois made his first court appearance Thursday for a series of alleged crimes committed during the unrest, after spending years in federal custody. You must be logged in to view the

Plus +

Details Emerge in Indian Trail Teacher’s Firing Over Racial Comments

Ryan Nachtigal – Former Math Teacher, ITA(Facebook.com – School Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — The Indian Trail math teacher once allowed to keep his job after allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks and mocking a student with a “Heil Hitler” salute has now been fired following new allegations of racial misconduct. You must be logged in to view the rest

MORE TOP STORIES
Plus +

Racine Man Accused of Graphic Snapchat Assault on Minor Held on $200,000 Bail

Shawn Michael Hughes, 34, of Racine in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Racine County man is being held on $200,000 cash bail following charges that he used Snapchat to facilitate a sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl in 2020 while staying in

KUSD Superintendent Responds to Urban League Criticism, Urban League Fires Back

KENOSHA, Wis. – One day after the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha publicly blasted Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) leadership in a scathing open letter, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss issued a formal response, defending district practices while acknowledging community concerns. Weiss’s statement, released Wednesday afternoon, was addressed directly to

Residents Slam Kenosha Fiber Project Over “Crappy” Cleanup, City Hall Shrugs

KENOSHA, Wis. – A major infrastructure project touted as the future of internet service in Kenosha is drawing fierce backlash from residents, who say the installation has left their neighborhoods looking like construction sites—with no sign of repair. The city’s partnership with SiFi Networks to bring high-speed fiber internet to

Categories
Archives
Authors

28 Responses

  1. A message for young women: You might want to think twice about the type of, ahem, “man” you’ll have fathering your children.
    The neglect by the dad makes me want to throw up. This poor child is a victim of careless dumbass parents.

    18
    1. What a dumbass! That seems to be your answer for everything. How do you come up with “Send him back to Mexico” with a name like Zachary Alexander Chute? I bet you wouldn’t have the balls to say that face to face to a Hispanic person. You’re a closet racist who thinks it’s ok to act that way now because of your racist, convict, and rapist president.

      6
      1
  2. Dispensaries sell child proof containers with all their products..but yeah Wisconsin still keeps it illegal. Great job! 👏 this is the product of black market and some stupidity obviously.

    4
    4
  3. I used to work with him. Very nice guy he was and a hard worker. Pray this poor baby girl gets better care.

    6
    1
  4. … so, do they know that the seizure/medical incident was related to THC? Or, did the child have a medical incident, and then THC was subsequently found in the child’s system from some other type of exposure to THC not related to the medical incident?

    Therefore… isn’t it entirely possible that this young man didn’t actually do anything wrong? After all… there are no tests to say WHEN someone ingested THC… just that THC is present in the bloodstream in certain concentrations. The concentration in your bloodstream has to do with frequency of use, amount used, what what used (flower as opposed to concentrates, etc)…

    Don’t just look at dad, is all I’m saying. Even something edible takes more than a few hours to really kick in… so unless this child was actively smoking weed or vaping… we need to really look at this situation in totality.

Add a Comment

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

LATEST NEWS
Plus +

DNA Links Illinois Man to 2020 Kenosha Riot Burglary, $50K Bail Set

Erik C. Thomas, 34, of Illinois in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – More than four years after the Kenosha riots of 2020, a 34-year-old man from Illinois made his first court appearance Thursday for a series of alleged crimes committed during the unrest, after spending years in federal custody. You must be logged in to view the

Plus +

Details Emerge in Indian Trail Teacher’s Firing Over Racial Comments

Ryan Nachtigal – Former Math Teacher, ITA(Facebook.com – School Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — The Indian Trail math teacher once allowed to keep his job after allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks and mocking a student with a “Heil Hitler” salute has now been fired following new allegations of racial misconduct. You must be logged in to view the rest

Plus +

Racine Man Accused of Graphic Snapchat Assault on Minor Held on $200,000 Bail

Shawn Michael Hughes, 34, of Racine in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Racine County man is being held on $200,000 cash bail following charges that he used Snapchat to facilitate a sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl in 2020 while staying in Kenosha County. The allegations, described in graphic detail in a newly filed criminal

KUSD Superintendent Responds to Urban League Criticism, Urban League Fires Back

KENOSHA, Wis. – One day after the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha publicly blasted Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) leadership in a scathing open letter, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss issued a formal response, defending district practices while acknowledging community concerns. Weiss’s statement, released Wednesday afternoon, was addressed directly to Urban League President and CEO James Hall and was shared with other community

Residents Slam Kenosha Fiber Project Over “Crappy” Cleanup, City Hall Shrugs

KENOSHA, Wis. – A major infrastructure project touted as the future of internet service in Kenosha is drawing fierce backlash from residents, who say the installation has left their neighborhoods looking like construction sites—with no sign of repair. The city’s partnership with SiFi Networks to bring high-speed fiber internet to every home has turned into a messy ordeal for many. While the “Kenosha

Opinion: A 15-Year-Old Girl Showed More Courage Than Every Catholic Priest in Kenosha County

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — I was born and raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade. I chose to raise my children in the Church too. When I moved to Kenosha in 2006, I became a parishioner at St. Therese. I trusted my kids’ spiritual lives to that parish—until the priest who baptized them was arrested for sexually harassing

$25,000 Arrest Warrant Issued for Illinois Man Accused of High-Speed Fleeing in Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. – A 26-year-old Illinois man is wanted in Kenosha County on felony charges related to a reckless high-speed pursuit through city streets that police say endangered several lives last fall. On May 28, Court Commissioner William Michel II signed a $25,000 arrest warrant for Kurtis P. McCarnes, of Round Lake, Ill., after prosecutors filed two felony counts stemming from an Oct.

Urban League Slams KUSD in Blistering Open Letter, Calls Out ‘Culture of Silence’

KENOSHA, Wis. – In a rare and fiery rebuke, the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha, Inc. publicly condemned the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) on Wednesday, accusing district leadership of fostering a toxic and discriminatory environment for students and staff. In an open letter posted to social media, the civil rights organization declared it could “no longer remain silent” about what it

Kenosha Man Charged in Laundromat Coin Machine Break-In

KENOSHA, Wis. – A 49-year-old Kenosha man already in jail is facing new felony charges after prosecutors say he smashed open a laundromat coin machine with a fire extinguisher and made off with a bag of coins in a pre-dawn burglary. Epstein D. Scott was charged Thursday with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor entry into a locked coin box, both as

Kenosha woman accused of beating 15-year-old son with bat held on $5,000 bail

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 52-year-old Kenosha woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly assaulting her 15-year-old son with both her hands and a baseball bat during an argument over money. Ericka Menee Jackson-Morning was charged Thursday with physical abuse of a child, intentionally causing bodily harm, with a dangerous weapon enhancer. The Class H felony carries a maximum sentence of up to

Plus +

Bar Rescue Couple Back in Court Following Twin Domestic Charges

Nicole M. Lehman, 42, of Somers in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – Just two months after a bizarre domestic disturbance that ended with her being dragged out of her home after an encounter with deputies where she was allegedly naked, reality TV bar owner Nicole Lehman returned to court Thursday on fresh charges—and with a familiar face

Plus +

‘Defeated’ Cold Case Murder Suspect Appears in Court Today as Bond Set at $500K: Video

John Viskocil, 70, of Randall, in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — The man accused of helping orchestrate the 2003 execution-style murder of Navy veteran David Vanderzee appeared in Kenosha County court on Wednesday, more than two decades after the crime. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Gail’s Law Gains Momentum in Madison, Aims to Eliminate Insurance Gap for Breast Cancer Screenings

MADISON, Wis. – Lawmakers, breast cancer survivors, and advocates gathered Tuesday for a Senate Health Committee hearing on Senate Bill 264, also known as Gail’s Law, which seeks to close a longstanding insurance gap that leaves many Wisconsin women paying out-of-pocket for potentially life-saving breast cancer screenings. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie), is named in honor of the

Bike-to-Work Weeks Begin Saturday in Kenosha County

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – Cyclists across Kenosha County are encouraged to dust off their helmets and hit the road this weekend as Bike-to-Work Weeks officially kick off Saturday, May 31, and run through Saturday, June 14. The annual initiative, jointly promoted by Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala, aims to encourage residents to consider bicycling as a fun, healthy

Plus +

Robbery Plot for Gas Money Ends in Charges for Silver Lake Pair

Kelly M. Stankus, 49, of Silver Lake SILVER LAKE, Wis. – A Silver Lake couple is facing felony charges after an alleged robbery at a BP gas station last December, in what authorities say was a brazen attempt to steal a donation box for spare change. Kelly M. Stankus, 49, and her live-in boyfriend Jason G. Strelow, 49, were both criminally charged on

Kenosha County Cold Case Cracked: Wife and Her Lover, Arrested, Charged in 2003 ‘Execution-Style’ Murder

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – After nearly 22 years of silence, suspicion, and stalled justice, Kenosha County prosecutors have charged Roxanna Vanderzee-Collins and her alleged lover, John Viskocil, with the cold-blooded murder of Vanderzee-Collins’s husband, David Vanderzee, in what authorities describe as an “execution-style” killing meticulously orchestrated under the guise of a crumbling marriage and secret romance. Commissioner William Michel II signed arrest warrants

Kenosha Man Wanted for Alleged Voter Fraud During 2020 Election

KENOSHA, Wis. – A felony arrest warrant has been issued for a Kenosha man accused of illegally casting a ballot in the 2020 presidential election while still on felony probation. Court Commissioner William Michel II signed the $500 warrant Monday for 33-year-old Michael A. Regina. Prosecutors allege he knowingly voted in the November 3, 2020 general election despite being ineligible under Wisconsin law

Plus +

High-Speed Chase Suspect Faces Felony Charges After Nearly Striking Kenosha Squad Car

Zachary L. Pulera, 38, of Kenosha in Court(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha man is facing more than three decades behind bars after prosecutors say he led police on a dangerous, rain-soaked high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a marked squad car and endangering pedestrians. You must be logged in to view

Kenosha Man Charged With 14 Counts in Brutal Domestic Abuse Case Involving Strangulation, Biting, and Confinement

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 21-year-old Kenosha man is facing a litany of serious domestic violence charges after police say he repeatedly strangled, battered, and isolated the mother of his child over a period of more than two years, with some of the most severe allegations surfacing just this week. Antonio L. Jackson was charged Wednesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with 14 criminal

Plus +

Kenosha woman wanted in $40K elder fraud case, arrest warrant issued

Lori S. Prostko, 47, of Kenosha(Squad Car Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha woman is wanted by police after a $7,500 arrest warrant was issued Tuesday in a felony elder exploitation case involving more than $40,000 in allegedly stolen funds. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Riverport Chorus Launches A Cappella Summer Series for Women Singers

WILMOT, Wis. – Women looking to make music, form friendships, and enjoy a summer filled with song are invited to join Riverport Chorus’s A Cappella Summer series, kicking off Monday, June 2. The popular all-female chorus, part of the international Sweet Adelines network, is opening its risers to guests for 13 weeks of musical learning and harmony-building. The series will run through August

Plus +

Kenosha Man Held on $200,000 Bail in Child Sexual Assault Case

Frederick P. Rasmussen, 71, of Kenosha in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 71-year-old Kenosha man is being held on $200,000 cash bond after prosecutors charged him with repeatedly sexually assaulting two young children while acting as their stepfather and caregiver. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

LATEST NEWS
Plus +

DNA Links Illinois Man to 2020 Kenosha Riot Burglary, $50K Bail Set

Erik C. Thomas, 34, of Illinois in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – More than four years after the Kenosha riots of 2020, a 34-year-old man from Illinois made his first court appearance Thursday for a series of alleged crimes committed during the unrest, after spending years in federal custody. You must be logged in to view the

Plus +

Details Emerge in Indian Trail Teacher’s Firing Over Racial Comments

Ryan Nachtigal – Former Math Teacher, ITA(Facebook.com – School Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — The Indian Trail math teacher once allowed to keep his job after allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks and mocking a student with a “Heil Hitler” salute has now been fired following new allegations of racial misconduct. You must be logged in to view the rest

Plus +

Racine Man Accused of Graphic Snapchat Assault on Minor Held on $200,000 Bail

Shawn Michael Hughes, 34, of Racine in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A 34-year-old Racine County man is being held on $200,000 cash bail following charges that he used Snapchat to facilitate a sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl in 2020 while staying in Kenosha County. The allegations, described in graphic detail in a newly filed criminal

KUSD Superintendent Responds to Urban League Criticism, Urban League Fires Back

KENOSHA, Wis. – One day after the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha publicly blasted Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) leadership in a scathing open letter, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Weiss issued a formal response, defending district practices while acknowledging community concerns. Weiss’s statement, released Wednesday afternoon, was addressed directly to Urban League President and CEO James Hall and was shared with other community

Residents Slam Kenosha Fiber Project Over “Crappy” Cleanup, City Hall Shrugs

KENOSHA, Wis. – A major infrastructure project touted as the future of internet service in Kenosha is drawing fierce backlash from residents, who say the installation has left their neighborhoods looking like construction sites—with no sign of repair. The city’s partnership with SiFi Networks to bring high-speed fiber internet to every home has turned into a messy ordeal for many. While the “Kenosha

Opinion: A 15-Year-Old Girl Showed More Courage Than Every Catholic Priest in Kenosha County

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — I was born and raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade. I chose to raise my children in the Church too. When I moved to Kenosha in 2006, I became a parishioner at St. Therese. I trusted my kids’ spiritual lives to that parish—until the priest who baptized them was arrested for sexually harassing

$25,000 Arrest Warrant Issued for Illinois Man Accused of High-Speed Fleeing in Kenosha

KENOSHA, Wis. – A 26-year-old Illinois man is wanted in Kenosha County on felony charges related to a reckless high-speed pursuit through city streets that police say endangered several lives last fall. On May 28, Court Commissioner William Michel II signed a $25,000 arrest warrant for Kurtis P. McCarnes, of Round Lake, Ill., after prosecutors filed two felony counts stemming from an Oct.

Urban League Slams KUSD in Blistering Open Letter, Calls Out ‘Culture of Silence’

KENOSHA, Wis. – In a rare and fiery rebuke, the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha, Inc. publicly condemned the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) on Wednesday, accusing district leadership of fostering a toxic and discriminatory environment for students and staff. In an open letter posted to social media, the civil rights organization declared it could “no longer remain silent” about what it

Kenosha Man Charged in Laundromat Coin Machine Break-In

KENOSHA, Wis. – A 49-year-old Kenosha man already in jail is facing new felony charges after prosecutors say he smashed open a laundromat coin machine with a fire extinguisher and made off with a bag of coins in a pre-dawn burglary. Epstein D. Scott was charged Thursday with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor entry into a locked coin box, both as

Kenosha woman accused of beating 15-year-old son with bat held on $5,000 bail

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 52-year-old Kenosha woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly assaulting her 15-year-old son with both her hands and a baseball bat during an argument over money. Ericka Menee Jackson-Morning was charged Thursday with physical abuse of a child, intentionally causing bodily harm, with a dangerous weapon enhancer. The Class H felony carries a maximum sentence of up to

Plus +

Bar Rescue Couple Back in Court Following Twin Domestic Charges

Nicole M. Lehman, 42, of Somers in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – Just two months after a bizarre domestic disturbance that ended with her being dragged out of her home after an encounter with deputies where she was allegedly naked, reality TV bar owner Nicole Lehman returned to court Thursday on fresh charges—and with a familiar face

Plus +

‘Defeated’ Cold Case Murder Suspect Appears in Court Today as Bond Set at $500K: Video

John Viskocil, 70, of Randall, in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — The man accused of helping orchestrate the 2003 execution-style murder of Navy veteran David Vanderzee appeared in Kenosha County court on Wednesday, more than two decades after the crime. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Gail’s Law Gains Momentum in Madison, Aims to Eliminate Insurance Gap for Breast Cancer Screenings

MADISON, Wis. – Lawmakers, breast cancer survivors, and advocates gathered Tuesday for a Senate Health Committee hearing on Senate Bill 264, also known as Gail’s Law, which seeks to close a longstanding insurance gap that leaves many Wisconsin women paying out-of-pocket for potentially life-saving breast cancer screenings. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R–Pleasant Prairie), is named in honor of the

Bike-to-Work Weeks Begin Saturday in Kenosha County

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – Cyclists across Kenosha County are encouraged to dust off their helmets and hit the road this weekend as Bike-to-Work Weeks officially kick off Saturday, May 31, and run through Saturday, June 14. The annual initiative, jointly promoted by Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala, aims to encourage residents to consider bicycling as a fun, healthy

Plus +

Robbery Plot for Gas Money Ends in Charges for Silver Lake Pair

Kelly M. Stankus, 49, of Silver Lake SILVER LAKE, Wis. – A Silver Lake couple is facing felony charges after an alleged robbery at a BP gas station last December, in what authorities say was a brazen attempt to steal a donation box for spare change. Kelly M. Stankus, 49, and her live-in boyfriend Jason G. Strelow, 49, were both criminally charged on

Categories
Archives
Authors

Wake Up to What You Missed

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