(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — In open court Tuesday, a defense attorney alleged that a 54-year-old Kenosha man suffering from epilepsy was denied his medication while in custody at the Kenosha County Jail — the latest in a string of serious claims about medical neglect under Sheriff David Zoerner’s watch.
“He also does have epilepsy, which he needs medication for,” the attorney said. “There was a period here in the jail where he was without his medication.”
The remarks came as the attorney argued for a $500 cash bond, describing the defendant as a long-time Kenosha resident with no criminal record, stable employment, and deep family ties. “He’s got many family members here, including five kids and eight grandkids… he lives here, works here, and can get to court,” the attorney said. “That disease… would be best treated outside of jail.”
Kenosha County Eye is withholding the defendant’s name because the core of the story concerns broader allegations of medical neglect, not the underlying charges.
Court records show the man was charged Tuesday with false imprisonment and disorderly conduct, both as acts of domestic abuse. He reportedly suffered medical distress after his arrest and had to be taken to St. Catherine’s Hospital for evaluation before being cleared for booking.
Sheriff Stops Responding
KCE has repeatedly reached out to Sheriff Zoerner about these claims — including a July 21 article that first reported inmates were going without critical medications — but Zoerner has now gone silent. He did not respond Tuesday when asked about this latest case. His last reply came days ago and offered only a vague promise to “look into it.”
The legal community, meanwhile, is losing patience.
“This is no longer just bureaucratic failure,” one attorney told KCE. “There’s a growing belief that this may be ideological — that the Sheriff is providing substandard medical care on purpose.”
Multiple defense attorneys have now made similar accusations in court. One told a judge earlier this week that a different inmate with serious heart conditions had gone without medication for two full days. That attorney said even the local public defender supervisor emailed Zoerner directly with concerns — and still got no meaningful response.
Lawsuits Continue to Pile Up
Sheriff Zoerner is already facing two federal lawsuits alleging unconstitutional medical neglect in the jail. In one case, the family of Reighnn Post-McNab says the 20-year-old died after suffering a medical emergency that went unnoticed for nearly half an hour. In another, a separate plaintiff alleges similar failures led to harm while in custody.
Critics say these lawsuits may only be the beginning.
“He’s had ample warning,” said a defense attorney who requested anonymity to speak freely. “At this point, the Sheriff is practically inviting more litigation.”
Kenosha County Eye will continue pressing for answers — and will report if Zoerner resumes responding.
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20 Responses
I met Sheriff Zoerner briefly at a store and looking back I shoulda told him how proud me and others are of him, you guys are rude as hell
Pussy
Wow…You met him briefly? We are so sure that you could really get a gist of WHO this person REALLY is in a brief meeting at the grocery store?
He is a clown, leaves stupid ass comments for every story.
Likely depends on the inmate’s internal classification. If mouthy and obstinate, the guards will respond in kind accordingly.
Who really cares? The Sheriff has more important things to do than cater to inmates.
It’s not catering to inmates. The sheriff has a specific duty under state law to provide for the medical care of inmates. The issue mentioned in this story has been going on, though, for decades.
Sounds like you weren’t given your Benadryl in jail. Wah wah wah
Zoerner is just taking a page out of the book of fellow Republicans Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis. Florida has alligator Alcatraz and it appears Kenosha County Jail should soon be renamed Zoerner’s Zoo.
Lmao nice try 🤣
I’d like to retract my comment and poor analogy because even zoo animals are given their proper medications. Kevin, I appreciate your reports on this issue. A Google News search revealed Kenosha County Eye as the lone media outlet to cover it. Shame on Kenosha Snooze and Milwaukee media outlets for ignoring a major issue.
Shove your TDS retardation right up your unwiped diarreah rimmed rectum. Your kind are political social rot worse than most of the inmates, except child abusers.
Do society a favor and please don’t reproduce.
He suffered medical duress after being placed under arrest……….Incarceritus
I guess ignorance really is bliss.
I mean…of course he isn’t saying anything anymore…..he already knows he is getting sued.
Yeah, why dig yourself a deeper grave
These losers are in jail, who cares. They deserve to be “forgotten about”.
You’re an ass for saying they “deserve to be forgotten about.” It’s easy to spew garbage like that from behind a screen, but what if it were your family member sitting in a cell? Do they deserve to be erased from existence in your eyes? What if it were you—should everyone just forget you ever existed?
Your statement is pathetic. You’re essentially saying anyone who ends up incarcerated should be discarded like trash. If that’s really how you feel, then I expect when someone close to you slips up and lands behind bars, you’ll stay true to your own words. Don’t come running downtown to bail them out—because by your logic, they should “be forgotten about.”
OMG…. I bet you are the one that always picks on haywood! You took all the fun out of reading comments.