(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha father is facing felony child abuse charges after allegedly attacking his teenage daughter in a fast-food parking lot and later threatening her not to call the police.
Joshua J. Fleming, 43, was charged Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with physical abuse of a child and disorderly conduct, both as a domestic abuse incident and with repeater enhancements due to prior felony convictions. Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $7,500 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 16.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to 7621 Sheridan Road on May 9 in response to a reported assault. The 17-year-old victim told officers that while parked at a Popeyes restaurant on 75th Street, an argument escalated when Fleming allegedly threw a bag of food and two drinks at her. The altercation continued when she attempted to exit the vehicle. Fleming is accused of grabbing her by the head, pulling her by her necklace, and scratching her neck and chest, causing visible bleeding.
The girl’s mother, Patricia Goins, reportedly entered the car after ordering food and saw Fleming pulling the girl’s hair. The complaint says Goins initially denied seeing the assault but later admitted she “may have observed” part of it. Officers noted spilled liquids inside the vehicle and scratches on the girl’s body.
After the incident, Fleming allegedly entered his daughter’s bedroom, poked her in the forehead, and warned her not to contact authorities. Before dropping her off at work, he reportedly told her to “watch out” when she returned home.
Fleming later gave a voluntary statement to police, claiming that his daughter initiated physical contact and that any scratches were the result of him defending himself. He admitted his long fingernails might have caused her injuries.
The complaint notes that Fleming was previously convicted of felony bail jumping and felony narcotics possession in 2022. If convicted on the current charges, he faces over a decade in prison due to the repeater penalties: up to 10 years for the child abuse charge and up to two years for disorderly conduct.
The teen victim resides with Fleming and is his biological daughter, according to court records.
Fleming remains in custody as of Monday afternoon.
