(File photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – Clergy from Catholic churches across Kenosha County are coming under scrutiny for submitting letters to the court in support of Christian Enwright, a former middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to grooming a 12-year-old student.
(Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office)
Enwright is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, May 16, after admitting guilt to 15 counts of disorderly conduct related to months of inappropriate and emotionally manipulative behavior toward a minor while employed at KTEC Middle School. Despite the nature of the charges and an active federal civil suit filed by the alleged victim’s family, religious leaders from at least five Catholic parishes have asked the court to show leniency.
Among them are Father Roman Stikel, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kenosha; Deacon Wilson A. Shierk; and Deacon Daniel Kehrein, who also served at St. Mary’s. The parish has previously faced public rebuke from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for its defiance of directives, including continued involvement with the activist organization CUSH, which was denounced by Archbishop Jerome Listecki in November 2023.
According to the criminal complaint, Enwright’s conduct included obsessive and repeated communication with a female student, crossing professional boundaries, and defying directives to cease contact. Law enforcement and prosecutors cited a pattern of grooming behavior. The charges were initially filed as 22 counts of disorderly conduct before being reduced to 15 as part of a plea agreement.
More than 30 letters were submitted to the court on Enwright’s behalf. Several were written by clergy or individuals affiliated with Catholic churches throughout the county. Many of the letters focus on Enwright’s religious faith, community service, and role as a husband and father. His father, Brent Enwright—himself a Catholic deacon—also submitted a letter and appears to have played a central role in organizing support from within the Church.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Enwright’s wife, Leah, who is pregnant with twins, also submitted a lengthy statement asking for mercy. Others described Enwright as remorseful, driven to serve others, and committed to rehabilitation.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Despite the public and clerical push for leniency, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis is recommending that Enwright serve one year in jail, followed by three years of probation. Solis has not publicly commented on the volume of clergy letters, but the recommendation signals the state’s view that a probation-only sentence would be inappropriate.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Enwright’s teaching license has been surrendered, and he has not returned to education. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday before Judge Gerad Dougvillo at the Kenosha County Courthouse.
Clergy and church-affiliated supporters who submitted letters:
- Fr. Roman Stikel, priest, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- Deacon Wilson A. Shierk, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- Deacon Daniel Kehrein, retired, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- Ann Yorgensen, musician, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- Theresa Setter, retired music director, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- Deacon Michael Reesman, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- Kevin Burrow, music director, St. James and St. Elizabeth Catholic Churches
- Fr. Sean Granger, priest, St. James and St. Elizabeth Catholic Churches
- Rev. Daniel D. Keher
.
Family and close relatives:
- Leah Enwright, wife
- Brent Enwright, father, Catholic deacon
- Mari Enwright, mother
- Paige Enwright, sister-in-law, Dr. of Chiropractic
- Grant Enwright, brother
- Jordan Enwright, brother
- Dr. Lance David, uncle, retired professor
- Peggy David, aunt
- Laurene Thompson, mother-in-law (Leah Enwright’s mother)
.
Friends, neighbors, and professionals:
- Grant Bullmore, construction manager, Advenir Azora
- Graham Bullmore, former Bible study leader
- Cheryl Horne, retired paralegal, Kenosha County DA’s Office
- Jackie Slana, retired prosecutor, Lake County, Illinois
- Stephen Slana, family friend
- James Schend, retired editor, Taste of Home Magazine
- Mary Salani, retired instructional technology consultant, KUSD
- Dr. Richard E. Schultz, chiropractor, Schultz Chiropractic Clinic
- Debra Schultz, clinic manager, Schultz Chiropractic Clinic
- Sara Glidden, registered nurse
- Mary McPhail, supervisor, UniFirst
- Alexander Beal, therapist
- Roci Bollmann, family friend
- Bob Hund, family friend
- Fallon Schultz, friend
- Marcus Molback, friend
- Matthew Hrncar, longtime friend
- Christa Schneider
- Jolene Schneider
- Michael Pumphret, relative-in-law
- Frank Marrese, neighbor
- Krista Marrese, neighbor
- Christopher Kachur, Knights of Columbus
- Kathy and Bill Wilson, cousins
- Thomas Vasaretta, neighbor
- Laurie Spitzig, aunt
- Renee Stellmacher, office manager, UniFirst
- Hannah Syrjala
- Brandon and Thomas, friends
.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Here is the public court document. I’ve redacted personal information. If I missed something, let me know.
40 Responses
I’d be curious to read these letters.
Done!
Yes please
Extra super concerned that Fr. Sean is on this list. I really held him in higher regard. He’s going to lose a lot of respect from his parishioners for supporting a grooming pedophile.
Me too
I’m disappointed at all of the support he received from St. Mary’s. His actions should be condemned, rather than having excuses being made for them. As a business owner who has advertised in their church bulletins, I will not be renewing my support of this church. I will instead move my advertising to another church that more closely aligns with my values. I hope that other local businesses call their advertising representative and pull their ads as well. This is unacceptable and I cannot be in support of this.
Advertising in a church? I guess the Catholic Church is a business after all
They sure are. They have annual festivals full of secular music and booze.
St. Mary’s Kenosha is fake Catholic, just like St. Mark’s. Support for Enwright from St. Mary’s doesn’t surprise me— they supported CUSH, after all.
But support from Downtown Kenosha Catholic? That’s alarming.
Test
Looks like a lot of groomers protecting a groomer. Lock up all the pedo’s!
… you beat me to it
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He Has fooled many and made many his victims this guy should have prison time and if not be closely monitored and register as a sex predator.
I’m sure we will hear more from him as time goes on, He has a severe mental issue and is only going to get worse without the proper help!!!!!!
The guys father is/was a Deacon at St. Mary’s? Tight alliances.
tight alliances. yes a pervert father raised a pervert kid
Most parishioners will go along with it. How many have the courage to admonish the clergy? Most likely zero. We have too many Biden style catholics here that blindly support democrats in every election, supporting sin by proxy with their vote. They don’t care if democrats support the LGBTQ+ agenda, open borders, abortion on demand. Support of a “minor attracted person” like Enwright shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Cafeteria Catholics. Maybe they’ll pass the hat at services to take care of his canteen account in prison. Are you allowed to send him soap on a rope?
Judeo Christians. That’s the problem
This is sick ! Hopefully the parents can get a civil case on the Catholic Church as well.
Wut?
“the Catholic Church”
Like, St. Mary’s? Where he’s not a member but his Dad is a deacon? Or, the Downtown Kenosha Catholic Churches, where he is a member? Neither parish had nothing to do with his grooming actions.
Or, when you say the Catholic Church, are you talking about bringing a civil suit against the multi-national, worldwide organization?
And—what do any of these organizations have to do with a teacher who was grooming one of his students? Supporting leniency ≠ culpability of the behavior or the failure of the legal system to harshly punish this child groomer.
This Catholic Church in particular has had It’s issues with pedophiles for a number of years. I went to school with a few people that were victims in junior high. It’s not surprising that they would defend Someone like this as there is so much hypocrisy. Sickening!
It’s been infiltrated by the tribe.
Saying priests can’t marry = Raping boys. This is what the Catholic Church has is still is. Yet the sheep continue to support the church despite this kind of evil abuse has been going on forever.
Btw, Orthodox Christians priest can are in couraged to marry
In the Talmud, it’s ok to rape children. These are the people that infiltrated the churches. “JudeoChristian” is fake n gay.
Stay away from the Scofield bible. Rewritten by the same people.
How can family write character reference letters, as that is clearly conflicts of interest and interest and should not have been submitted!!!!
Why does the church think they can influence anybody?
Enwright has letters of support attesting to his kindness, compassion and generosity. These traits are all tools of the trade for people grooming children. Children are not attracted to unkindness, lack of compassion and selfishness.
Its all about manipulation. He seems to be a master at it. But for the people ignorant enough not to see it!
I am not at all shocked that the LGBTQ friendly and uber liberal St Mary’s parish has supporters of the pervert Enright, but I am utterly appalled at Fr. Sean Granger and Kevin Burrow from St. Elizabeth/St. James parishes. I thought St. Elizabeth/James were honorable parishes and ones that did not support sexual deviants and pedophiles, but I guess I am wrong. Wow! I thought I knew you, Fr. Sean!
Agree!!
You have a (D) next to the names of the clergy in the photo. Is that by design? Is their political affiliation a well known thing? A bit bizarre.
Those two are openly Democrats.
There are very, very few Democrats anymore but lots and lots of Pedocrats …..
Have any of these letter writers even considered the victim and her family? If Enwright was such a great person, he wouldn’t have done what he did. Pedophiles can’t be fixed. It’s inherently who they are and main reason convicted sex offenders must register with law enforcement. Enwright got a slap on the wrist, only charged with disorderly conduct and most likely not having to register as a sex offender. His behavior won’t change and he will offend again.
Thank you!
Well, you have to consider the mentality of these writers.We are talking about an organization that takes priests that molest young boys and instead of being prosecuted are shipped across the country to guess what they will do there? probably molest other little boys! So, its not surprising they would rally for this sick groomer/pedofile. This is why it never stops and the mental anquish this causes lasts a lifetime for victims.
Very creepy selfies of Enwright. Something is visibly off with him.
Ummm. Yeah, he is a pedofile!
So, I read a couple of the letters, written by people I know. Neither of them attempted to defend Mr. Enwright’s actions. They didn’t discuss the alleged infractions at all. They spoke about knowing Enright and how he behaved around them. They were character references, pure and simple. I don’t know Enright, but the actions alleged don’t seem to match his public persona as expressed in these letters. There is that 2024 DUI, though, and many of us have a dark side, sometimes even unseen by close associates. Bottom line, it was very likely inadvisable for the parties involved to write the letters, but the letters don’t constitute a defense of Enwright’s actions.