KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha couple appeared in court Thursday and were formally charged with a combined 21 felonies in a case that prosecutors say involved the abuse and exploitation of the woman’s own 8-year-old daughter.

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Dylan Gardinier, 30, and Alyssa Schraeder, 30, were both ordered held on high cash bonds. Gardinier’s $200,000 bail was continued, while Schraeder’s bail was set at $300,000. Both are scheduled for preliminary hearings on September 3.

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Allegations of Abuse

According to the criminal complaints, the child — Schraeder’s daughter — told investigators that Gardinier repeatedly abused her starting when she was about 5 years old. She said he beat her with a brown belt, pulled out her hair during violent episodes, left her with painful red marks on her body, and often forced her to eat dog food instead of proper meals. Prosecutors also allege that Gardinier left the girl and her infant brother alone for long periods while he went out.

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Investigators say Schraeder not only failed to protect her own daughter, but also actively participated in producing and storing illegal material involving the child.She is also alleged to have sexually assaulted her own daughter. Prosecutors allege she admitted to taking or allowing photos and videos to be created, some while her daughter was asleep.

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Charges Against Gardinier

Gardinier is charged with:

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• Second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 (maximum 40 years)
• Exposing genitals to a child (maximum 3½ years)
• Child sexual exploitation – producing images (maximum 40 years, mandatory minimum 5 years if convicted)
• Child abuse – intentionally causing bodily harm (maximum 6 years)

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Charges Against Schraeder

Schraeder faces 17 felony counts, including:

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• Eight counts of possession of child pornography (up to 25 years each)
• One count of second-degree sexual assault of a child (up to 40 years)
• Seven counts of child sexual exploitation – producing images (up to 40 years each, with mandatory minimums)
• One count of failure to protect a child from sexual assault (up to 12½ years)

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Next Steps

Both defendants will return to Kenosha County Circuit Court on September 3 for their preliminary hearings. Prosecutors say further evidence is still under review.

If convicted on the most serious counts, Gardinier and Schraeder each face decades in prison.

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