KENOSHA, Wis. — Alessandra Doby, the woman accusing fired Kenosha Police Officer Joshua Sylvester of sexual assault, is now seeking to stop Kenosha County Eye and other media from publishing her name during his upcoming trial — even though she is the plaintiff in a federal civil-rights lawsuit and the criminal defendant in a pending OWI second offense causing injury case.

Doby’s first OWI arrest in 2022 was the basis for her criminal complaint against Sylvester, who allegedly assaulted her while she was in custody following that arrest. That earlier OWI case, however, was quietly dismissed by the City of Kenosha — reportedly as a favor to Doby in hopes that she would not sue the city. Since then, she has been arrested again, this time for a second OWI that caused a crash involving a jail transport van, injuring another inmate. She now faces criminal charges in that case and is simultaneously suing the City of Kenosha, its police department, and Sylvester himself in federal court, where she stands to make a substantial financial recovery if successful.

In a letter dated October 12, 2025, Doby’s attorney, Chicago-based lawyer Keenan J. Saulter, asked Judge Jason Rossell to issue an order barring all media from publishing her name, instead directing reporters to refer to her as “Jane Doe.” Saulter argued that his client “desires to remain anonymous” due to the nature of the alleged assault and pointed to the federal court’s decision to allow her to proceed anonymously there.

Kenosha County Eye made the deliberate and difficult editorial decision to identify Doby in its reporting. Editor Kevin Mathewson explained that decision was based on the public’s right to transparency: “She is not only a victim, but also a plaintiff seeking money and a criminal defendant facing serious charges. Once you sue a municipality, your name becomes public record. The people of Kenosha deserve to know who is suing their city.”

Mathewson added that Saulter appears to be “salivating” at the opportunity created by Judge Rossell’s recent blanket order banning all cameras and video recording during the Sylvester trial. “Now that Rossell has recklessly shut out visual coverage, this attorney thinks he can muzzle the press altogether,” Mathewson said. “But in Wisconsin, courts are open to public view. Anyone in the world can walk into that courtroom and learn her name. That’s one of the harsh realities of being a victim in America: your name becomes public record. The defendant, however disgusting his allegations are, still has a right to face his accuser publicly.”

Rossell’s sweeping no-camera order has already drawn heavy criticism for being unconstitutional and anti-transparent. Observers say it contradicts decades of courtroom openness that have strengthened public trust — from O.J. Simpson to Kyle Rittenhouse — and lacks any legal foundation under Wisconsin law.

“Even if this judge orders a gag order on me, I will not follow it,” Mathewson said. “He can imprison me if he wants, but freedom of the press cannot be trumped by an egotistical, arrogant judge who doesn’t know the law.”

The Sylvester trial was originally scheduled to begin today but has now been adjourned until February 2026. With no other media expected in the courtroom, Kenosha County Eye will continue to provide full in-person coverage despite Rossell’s restrictions and the latest attempt to silence the press.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.