(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. – A former City of Kenosha arborist who admitted to stealing rebate checks from the city’s Parks Department was sentenced to 45 days in jail Wednesday by Judge Gerad Dougvillo, who called the theft “a betrayal of public trust.”
(Kenosha County Sheriff, added 7-3-2025)
Jamie D. Watkins, 54, previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in a case stemming from his unauthorized use of Menards rebate checks totaling over $600. The checks had been issued to the city but were redeemed by Watkins for personal purchases including household items and food.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Assistant District Attorney Alex Huber argued that Watkins’ actions were aggravated due to both his employment status and the fact that the victim was a taxpayer-funded government entity. “The people who are really being deprived are the taxpayers of the city of Kenosha and the voting citizens,” Huber said. He called for a jail sentence, saying probation would be inappropriate.
Defense attorney Terry Rose asked the court to impose a fine instead, citing Watkins’ otherwise clean record since the early 1990s and his community involvement, including a past incident where he saved a drowning swimmer and received recognition from the Coast Guard. Rose noted Watkins resigned from his city position in February and is now employed in private construction.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Watkins, in a brief statement to the court, expressed remorse. “I cannot even drive by Menards,” he said. “I’m embarrassed just to be out in public for this.”
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
But Judge Dougvillo emphasized that the theft occurred multiple times, not as a momentary lapse in judgment. “It’s no different than going into the till and taking that money directly out,” he said. “This was done out of greed and avarice.”
Dougvillo also rejected probation and said Watkins would begin his sentence immediately. “This isn’t a crime of necessity,” the judge added. “It’s important that individuals who betray public trust are held accountable.”
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
District Attorney Xavier Solis issued a statement following the sentencing: “Public trust is the foundation of local government. When a city employee betrays that trust and steals from taxpayers, even in small amounts, it undermines confidence in our institutions. My office will continue to hold public officials accountable—regardless of position—because no one is above the law. Tackling corruption in our community starts with ensuring that integrity, honesty, and transparency are non-negotiable values in public service.”
According to the criminal complaint, Watkins admitted to detectives that he took at least five or six rebate checks over the course of several months. Surveillance video and vehicle registration helped link him to the purchases, which were all made on Sundays—when the Parks Department is closed.
City Administrator John Morrissey confirmed that Watkins resigned from his position on February 27, 2025.
Watkins must also provide a DNA sample and pay court costs and surcharges within 60 days. He was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
He faces no additional charges. The Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.
32 Responses
What is absolute BS about this, is the guy is going to do more time than any of the Democrat Terrorists that burned the city to the ground five years ago. Our city government is pathetic.
Is what he did wrong? Hell yes! But serving more time than the animals that burned down the uptown or an entire car lot is PATHETIC.
….Xavier is in Town !!
The fact that going forward there will be more charges and less walks.
But can someone explain how rebates like this are even in the hands of these people ??
Don’t all receipts get turned in ?
If not, why not ?
This is a failure of the people in charge over the credit cards snd who holds the books !!
How did purchases like this NOT GET TURNED IN ?!?!?!?
Look higher up the food chain for the real culprits that allowed this to happen !!
Huh, how interesting! I bet there’s a lot of puckered buttholes in local municipalities tonight. The Kenosha County Eye sees all sins!
Wow! You must be a pervert. Why all the sexual language?
Wow, you must have stolen 11% rebates 😳
It’s a joke, not a dick. Try not to take it so hard
Are you that creepy perverted old man who has ridden motorcycles for 55 years? If you are, grow up and stop being creepy and perverted.
No one thinks your joke is funny, except for the adolescent boys who are reading this site.
I got 8 upvotes. You got triggered by a joke. We are not the same
Show me on the doll where my joke hurt you🤣
Yes, you are correct. We are not the same.
Your upvotes mean nothing. Your screen name joke and sexual humor is not funny to functional mature adults. GROW UP! Act like a man, not a boy.
Yes, because men never make sexual jokes…👌
Grown men also don’t so easily triggered off of comments they read on the internet…just saying. I find this amusing. You are pounding on your keyboard using ALL CAPS!
I find it funny, you get tiggered. That’s why I’m happier than you. Have a Happy 4th of July! 🎇
P.S.-I’d really consider returning those 11% rebates you probably stole. That might explain why you’re so triggered over my comment. Does your butthole pucker every time you see a cop car by chance?
What makes you think I am a man? Get a clue, little boy, decent women avoid immature men like you. The use of potty and sexual humor by old men is considered creepy and perverted. Is it any wonder why you have few, if any, friends?
seems excessive, considering frank fat pacetti should have been charged with felonies and was not even charged.
Frank pacetti the former City administrator was protected by the current City administrator John Morrissey . He was the police chief at the time. As the FBI investigator said with a fake college degree. All of John Morrissey family got hired in return. (Son) Daughter-in-law daughter. Bagdala ignores it. WOW
And Morrissey is still employed.
Not one member of the City Council even spoke about Morrissey’s complete lack of integrity by having a fake degree. No wonder Kenosha is so corrupt and politically incestuous. But we put up with it. We empower this corruption by not giving a damn and voting for the same criminal leadership, over and over again.
Funny how this only applies to certain people, meanwhile Joint Services brings employees back or lets them off scott free.
County Highways boss spent 10 years working 6 hour days and getting paid for 10 hour days.
No one cared about that, either.
That dude from Africa ?
No, but I bet he approved it. It is the operation manager who works right under the commissioner.
Send him to the prison in El Salvador 🇸🇻 Send him ASAP.
What is actually worse is Joint Services employees “working” overtime that “work” maybe 10 minutes out of the 4-8 hours that they are paid for. THAT is ACTUAL theft to us taxpayers.
In John Morrisseys day it was fake degrees. Now in det. Kyle Morrisseys time it’s all about fake search warrants! Integrity and uprightness are solid training wheels. But the training wheels gotta come off if you ever want to be the biggest scum sucker in a modestly sized yet isolated pond! At this rate of cancerous growth we dare to dream that even “backwater” might soon be on the horizon! That’s basically like being king of the world if youre biggest of that! Who could respect constitutional civil rights with THAT on the line?! …Ahhh I wish them well.
As fun us, let’s enjoy the 4th! God bless America and God bless all of yous! See ya at the lakefront, Kenosha!
Celebrate your freedoms by always asking if you have a choice before complying with even the simplest command, responding to any questions with and only with “im not answering any questions” and last but NOT least, lock your cell phones and electronics up in the glove box (or trunk if inaccessible to driver) while driving. Make them get a warrant up front or they won’t get one at all.
Respect is a two way street or it ceases to be respect.
However you do it, have a by the people for the people party, ‘Mericans.
Don’t forget that Morrisey is also on the County Board. What a crook.
What about destroying taxpayer property to make yourself a walking path?
Yep, that would be a misuse of taxpayer funds. Maybe the new message in Kenosha County should be, don’t waste taxpayers resources or else. Maybe a few more of these headlines will send the right message to Public employees, don’t F around and you won’t find out.
Nothing like good o currupt Kenosha ,
how ever this guy should get the 45 days in jail , He done alot worse in his days with Nothing , SO sorry dont feel bad for him at all ..
It’s the OJ syndrome. We will eventually get you.
Well, here you go. Same thing will happen to Diddy, not what you are being convicted of, but about perception of what you might of gotten away with.
Life can be full circle for some.
45 days is a lot, but how else does a message get sent to other employees of the County, Villages and towns in Kenosha CO.
I have mixed feelings about this sentence but let’s pause for a minute because there’s a slew of comments on this forum about sentences judges impose but so far no mention of what the law is about sentencing. There are a myriad of factors judges consider, such as prior record, but it starts with this and I think some people may find it surprising:
“The court should consider the nature and circumstances of the crime, the history and character of the offender, and available institutional and community resources. Probation should be the sentence unless the sentencing court finds that:
“(i) confinement is necessary to protect the public from further criminal activity by the offender; or
“(ii) the offender is in need of correctional treatment which can most effectively be provided if he is confined; or
“(iii) it would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offense if a sentence of probation were imposed.”
In this case, you have someone who did not commit a violent offense with no prior criminal record. The crime was a misdemeanor theft with a loss of $600. It does not appear that the defendant has treatment needs or engages in behavior that needs to be monitored by a probation agent. The sole purpose of a sentence here would be punishment (which is not an inappropriate consideration) and deterrence.
In cases like this Judge Schroeder, who was not known to be lenient, often would impose a high fine. Here, the defendant got a 45 day jail sentence which works out to about 34 days, At a conservative figure of $100 per day cost per inmate, that means taxpayers are shelling out at least $3400. The defendant will have to pay his lawyer and the $600 restitution.
I could easily see Judge Schroeder imposing a fine in the range of $3,000-$5,000 as the sentence. Instead of the taxpayers having to pay, the defendant pays the taxpayers plus he has a conviction on his record.
There’s a lot of people in Kenosha committing serious and violent crimes that judges SHOULD be putting in JAIL. This guy shouldn’t get away with what he did but I’m not sure that a 45 day jail sentence was the right call. I could easily see a stiff fine or even a chunk of unpaid community service work but this sentence seems like the judge might be screwing the taxpayers.
plus this man will never be employed again. most likely suicide. so this is a daeth penalty in many ways
Why would you think it is a death penalty? Criminals get jobs all the time. This crime is nothing to many other ones people have committed and those people get jobs working for the Gov’t. Pretty sure he will have no problem finding a job. He could always go work for Steinbrink Jr.
are you going to hire him?
He could go get a state job they just require a pulse. As long as he discloses this information when he applies. Correctional officer?
Steinbrink Jr. Didn’t even get 45 days in jail. And he stole a lot more than just some Menards rebate checks. Though he stole those as well. Talk about betrayal of public trust. Steinbrink Jr. didn’t even have to pay restitution.
Steinbrink did a year in jail and made restitution. Widely reported here and elsewhere.