(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting two of his 11-year-old close relatives is now free—pending trial—after Judge Jason Rossell granted him a signature bond Wednesday, releasing him from custody without requiring a single dollar in cash bail.
(Kenosha Sheriff)
Cory R. Wells, 37, was initially held on $100,000 cash bail following his October 2023 arrest on four felony charges, including first-degree sexual assault of a child under 12 and incest. But that all changed this week, when Judge Rossell abruptly released Wells over the objection of Assistant District Attorney Toni Young, who legal insiders say was simply trying to delay the trial for legitimate reasons.
Wells was released at 5:08 p.m. Wednesday from the Kenosha County Jail.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Young, a respected and experienced prosecutor with a career spanning more than 16 years—including prior service as a defense attorney and judge in Racine County—had asked for a brief adjournment due to issues with discovery. That’s not uncommon in a case involving this level of seriousness, especially when the state is still within the 90-day window required under Wisconsin’s speedy trial rules.
According to state law, once a defendant demands a speedy trial—as Wells did on May 19, 2025—the case must go to trial within 90 days unless the court finds “good cause” for a delay. If that doesn’t happen, the court may release the defendant unless there’s a compelling reason to keep them detained. Legal observers say Rossell has routinely found “good cause” in other cases, but in this instance, he chose not to—and critics believe the reason may be personal.
Multiple legal insiders tell KCE that Rossell has held a well-known grudge against ADA Young dating back to at least 2016. “Judge Rossell’s disdain for her has been an open secret in the courthouse for years,” said one court official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “And now the community has to pay the price.”
The hearing quickly devolved into chaos. Rossell repeatedly interrupted Young as she tried to make a record of her objections. When she persisted, Rossell stormed off the bench, cleared the courtroom, and ordered Young held in contempt. Deputies escorted her out. Despite this dramatic display, no contempt order appears in the official court record.
One longtime Kenosha resident expressed outrage. “If Judge Rossell has personal issues with a prosecutor, he needs to keep them in chambers—not let a man accused of raping two little girls walk free,” the resident told KCE. “This wasn’t justice. This was revenge.”
According to the criminal complaint, Wells is accused of sexually assaulting two of his close relatives—both preteens—on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023, beginning when at least one of the children was just ten years old. The allegations include digital messages where Wells allegedly told one girl, “Damn I wish you gave head lol,” and “play with my nipples and suck them good,” among other explicit remarks. Forensic interviews and medical testing corroborated some of the children’s claims, including a positive chlamydia test reportedly linked to one of the assaults.
Despite the seriousness of these accusations—which carry potential sentences of up to 60 years per count—Rossell declined to move the trial to another judge’s docket, an option he’s used in other tight scheduling situations. Instead, he allowed Wells to walk free more than two months before the 90-day clock would have run out.
Wells is due back in court for trial unless new motions delay proceedings further. Meanwhile, many in the community are asking why the judge would take such a risk—especially when alternative judicial options were available.
If convicted on all counts, Wells faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and could spend the rest of his life behind bars. But until then, he’ll remain a free man—thanks to a judge who, critics argue, let his personal animus override public safety.
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7 Responses
Just another clear as day example of Kenosha and their crooked justice. This judge doesn’t want to keep families together but let’s just release a monster back to the streets. How long before he’s back in jail? Not soon enough.
The courthouse needs a major cleaning among the officials
Certainly, a very bad reflection of Judge Rossell’s judgment and behavior. However, six years is too long of a timeframe for the community’s collective memory to remember this incident so to vote him out in 2030. If he is to be removed prior, other administrative methods are required. In the meantime, Judge Rossell has plenty of time to bury this incident with subsequent cases acting as a max-penalty hanging judge like the very successful retired Judge Schroeder, which a winning voting plurality will deeply appreciate.
bad behavior and unprofessional of a judge, do act out in this way, should be held accountable for his action and removed from his Bench, Temper tantrums are not
part of the law system.
…was just re-elected last year 2024 to a 6 year term. !!
Xavier needs to file some kind of a motion for reconsideration or even judicial misconduct against this obvious rogue judge.
And we all need to remember this next time he’s up for reelection. That is if anyone will run against him !!! Until then we suffer
Jason has the temperament of a petulant child. He covers his inadequacies with pure bravado and bullying. If you disagree, even slightly, his fragile, baby ego can’t take it. He demands respect while giving none. He thinks he is the most important person in the room because his mommy told him he was. He never met a conversation he couldn’t make about himself. He freaks out if women don’t call him Judge – off the bench. When he is not working as a judge. He lets men call him Jason off the bench. His nickname is Boss Baby… and he is simply the worst.
…. why these “Professionals” who have a Doctorate demand to be called and introduced as Dr. so and so in just about any setting ?
I give a fuck who you are when not in the professional setting related to your Doctorate.
Or in this case, judge.
Go fuck yourself Jason !!!!
And while you’re looking in the mirror doing that, do your fucking JOB !!
Anyone who holds grudges where it affects their job performance doesn’t deserve that Job !!
This guy has to be reviewed by the judicial ethics board on his pitiful lack of service to the community and obvious racists intentions on any woman of color that has ever stood before him. Just check his history of ranting and raving about his stupid ass stories that are unrelated to any court or judicial proceedings. But he wastes the taxpayers money with his idea that he is the law, not an officer of the court and does everything he can to try and humiliate those who he dislikes for no reason other than their skin color or the way they may look. Never focused on just what is the reason he sits there.
How long will the bar association choose to ignore his actions and join right in on his views about how to treat people as their own. Where is the judicial court decorum? Where is the whole reason for being an officer of the court other than the people for which it serves. Accountability, and lack of it stands at the judicial board and whether they care or do not care how it reflects on them sitting on the board. It all looks very familiar to what his actions promote doesn’t it.
Thank you for reporting on this clown in a robe who thinks he is above the law.