KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Less than a month after completing a jail sentence for corruption, former Pleasant Prairie Public Works Director John Steinbrink Jr. sought to terminate his probation early — a move that raised eyebrows across Kenosha County. But on Monday, Judge Anthony Milisauskas issued a firm response: request denied.

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According to court records, Milisauskas denied the Wisconsin Department of Corrections’ petition to release Steinbrink from probation one year ahead of schedule, writing that early discharge “is not in the public interest.”

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Steinbrink was released from jail on May 12, 2025, and began the second year of probation immediately thereafter, following a one-year jail term imposed for three misdemeanor counts of attempted misconduct in public office. He was originally charged with seven felonies, but avoided prison time after the Racine County District Attorney’s Office controversially dropped the more serious charges.

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The petition, signed by DOC Agent Nicole Foyse, claimed that Steinbrink had completed 50% of his probation, met all court conditions, maintained employment, and satisfied all financial obligations. However, the community reaction was overwhelmingly skeptical. Residents questioned the timing and motive behind the request, especially given Steinbrink’s prior unsuccessful attempts to leave jail early through electronic monitoring — both of which were denied by Sheriff David Zoerner.

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Critics also pointed to the political leanings of Agent Foyse, a progressive activist who publicly displays “she/her” pronouns on social media, fueling further doubts about the objectivity of the DOC’s recommendation.

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Judge Milisauskas, known for his tough stance on public corruption, had already rejected the Racine DA’s push for leniency when he sentenced Steinbrink to jail instead of probation. With his latest ruling, he reaffirmed that consequences for abuse of public office should not be watered down.

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Steinbrink’s probation remains scheduled to end in July 2026. For now, the court has made clear that early termination is off the table — and accountability still matters in Kenosha County.

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