(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis filed a forceful motion Thursday demanding that Jason A. Kotarba, the 17-year-old Wilmot man charged with five felony counts of possessing child pornography, be taken back into custody and held on $10,000 cash bail.
(Yearbook)
In the motion, Solis argued that the current signature bond imposed by Court Commissioner William Michel II is “inadequate to assure appearance, protect the community, and prevent evidence interference.” The filing cites the disturbing nature of the allegations, the ease with which such crimes can be repeated online, and Kotarba’s incentive to flee as justification for the higher bail.
“The alleged conduct targets children and involves predatory sexual interest,” Solis wrote. “A cash bail is necessary to protect the public and ensure compliance.”
The motion outlines how investigators traced two reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children back to Kotarba’s Discord account, which was allegedly used to upload illegal material from both his home internet connection in Twin Lakes and Wilmot High School’s network. According to investigators, Discord messages reviewed by police show Kotarba expressing sexual interest in children between ages three and ten.
(File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
chad.kerkman@wicourts.gov and william.michel@wicourts.gov
Solis Pushes Back Against Judicial Leniency
The move marks a sharp rebuke of what Solis and many in the community view as a dangerous misuse of judicial discretion. Earlier this week, Commissioner Michel stunned observers when he shouted at a prosecutor and ordered Kotarba released without posting any cash, despite the DA’s request for $10,000.
Multiple courthouse insiders told Kenosha County Eye that Judge Chad Kerkman may have influenced Michel’s decision behind the scenes — an allegation neither judge has publicly addressed. Solis’s new motion, however, makes it clear that the district attorney will not tolerate what many parents have described as “outrageous leniency” in a case involving alleged sexual exploitation of children.
Neither Judge Kerkman (D) nor commissioner Michel (D) would respond to an email for comment.
Judge Jodi Meier, who is expected to hear the motion, is likely to grant it, according to several courthouse sources. “Judge Meier doesn’t answer to anyone — not Kerkman, not Michel,” one insider told KCE. “She’s duly elected by the people of Kenosha County, and she takes that seriously. She can — and will — make her own decision about bail.”
Wilmot District Administrator Christy Weinstock weinstockc@wilmoths.k12.wi.us (Right)
Community Reacts: ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
Parents throughout western Kenosha County say they’re encouraged by Solis’s decisive action following a week of chaos at Wilmot High School. Many told Kenosha County Eye they are “cautiously optimistic” that justice and accountability may soon prevail.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” one Wilmot mother said. “It finally feels like someone is standing up for our kids and not for the person who put them at risk.”
The motion also requests additional conditions if bail is granted, including a total ban on internet-capable devices, no use of social media or encrypted messaging, and no contact with minors under 18.
If approved, Kotarba will be taken back into custody pending his November 4 preliminary hearing.
As one courthouse source told KCE, “This may finally put an end to the free pass that never should’ve been given in the first place.”
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65 Responses
Thank you Kevin for bringing this to the light. Since the school won’t kick him out for the disgusting act I would think that since this …. thing used the school computers to upload this garbage that and of itself should be enough to keep him out of the school. Shame on Wilmont High School
We got a rapist for a president, no one kicked him out. This is not the schools fault. They are not the court system.
Good point.
Yes , from one moron to another.
Misinformation. Trump was never convicted of rape
Convicted of sexual abuse of Jean Carrol.
Did you even look into that case? The accuser was batshit crazy, had no evidence of any kind and the whole thing was completely implausible. A complete farce of a case.
You’re right, sorry.
pure ignorant comment
It is the school’s fault if they did not punish him for doing this shit on a school issued chrome book. They s=chose not to do anything even though the student handbook says otherwise. School has no control over court actions, but sure as hell have control over how they punish students based on their own guidelines.
Another day, another Jerkman messing things up in Kenosha Co.
Sam and Chad, gifts that keep on giving
Shame on the school WTF are these adults administrators thinking. They put all the kids in danger! Didn’t tell the parents he’d be back in school.
Not defending this POS in anyway but they even put this kid in danger by letting him back at school.
Heard he was getting constantly beat up and tormented (I’m ok with this) but where has common sense gone? Seriously??
Who and why would one downvote??
No sh*t, pedo supporting liberal no doubt.
You support trump? You support rapist/pedo.
You are so full of crap!!!! Do you know how stupid you sound
Nice try troll- doesn’t work 🤣
Trolls
Hey Kevin , do Chad Kerkman or wild Bill Michels have accounts on here ?
Just blink if yes .😆
Finally someone with common sense. Very much appreciated. Nice to see a DA seeing the parental concern and attempting to remedy the situation. This is what people vote for and this is how a DA works for the public. A thank you to Kevin for keeping on this, and Mr. Solis for at least making an attempt to right a wrong since the Courts can’t get their heads out of their asses.
Ok great , now how soon is this going to take place?
Any word from school administration that this demented puke not being allowed back at Wilmot?
While this case is as bad as it is, I’m hearing there are other “kids” in that school with law enforcement monitoring ankle bracelets?
Since when has this been a practice?
I am a wilmot senior and to say atleast personally I’ve never seen a kid with an ankle monitor on. this was one of the first times ever seeing anything like that, it’s not a practice or common place this monster is ruining students reputation and to say the least I’ve always thought the administration never cared about us but it goes to show what they’ve done here proves student safety never crossed their mind.
My kid informed me more than one kid at the school has a monitor as well. Shows up to school. Its also not due to any child associated crimes.
Fuck yeah!
When is the motion set to be heard? The way the courts have been going I’m expecting Nov 5th.
Better be before school starts tomorrow.
I think the article said 11-4.?
Set for 11.3.25. Jason’s hearing is the day after, on the 4th. I assume the ruling on the 3rd may put him into custody on the 4th.
This child needs intensive help. Not just rerelease back.
Cut his nuts off. That’s help.
I’m a Russian surgeon . I can help.
Absolutely. I don’t know if he can be saved but he needs intensive help not put back in the environment where he can harm others.
He used the schools comp? Then why the heck didn’t he get expelled?! What’s wrong with that district?!
That district is shit
Yeah, this School administration ought to be ashamed of themselves putting other children at risk…. Shame shame shame shame shame! Disgusting!!!!!!! How do you people sleep at night?
Some lower downvotes these, prob a lib who calls these people “minor attracted people” and thinks people can magically change genders. Freak.
*loser
Accept, that district is almost all Republican. Your comment is stupid!
Except*
Lmao yeah right- most in education are demented dems
Doesn’t Commissioner Michel have to record his no cash bail justification?
No cash bail is the IL way, which we are slowly becoming. That state is a cesspool and we’re now becoming such.
We are so fast to blame the school and the administration. What about the parents? Are they doing everything to help their kids? What about friends or other family members? What about people in the community who know someone is struggling? It takes a village.
What about the court system? The judges? In this case the judges failed not the school.
How about parents start parenting? How about they teach their kids respect and set boundaries? Check in with your kids. Put the phones & electric games to the side & know what your kid is doing. What are they interested in? Are they struggling? If so with what? If it’s school go talk to the teachers & staff about how school is going. How can you as a parent help? Show kids they matter. Show them they are important.
The school system is not set up to raise children. It’s set up to educate.
It is not the fault of the school or the administration that this kid was released and allowed to go to school. The Judges have released him.
He wears an ordered ankle monitoring device. He has the wright to be in school. Even if parents or students don’t like it.
We are fortunate that we don’t see this stuff in our community schools like some schools do. Just because he is allowed to come to school
The school, administrators and sheriffs department have all done their due diligence in taking all the appropriate precautionary measures to protect our kids in school.
Unfortunately, this kid has made several very poor decisions and clearly needs support and mental health services.
This is something the judges involved should have taken into consideration before releasing him.
I’m happy that DA Solis isn’t backing down. In no way was this the school’s fault.
Hopefully, this kid can get the help he needs.
It’s the fact that they were able to expel/suspend him based on the evidence of him using the school Crome book to hold pornographic material and he received no punishment for it. The school is not doing their part it would be different if it was just at home and they got the charges nowhere near the school then I could see how it was out of their control. But it is in their control and their actively choosing to do nothing about it!
If the incident was done in July with the school’s internet then it was during summer school session. He also is known for doing inappropriate things in the bathroom and has been caught by other students. Those things should have been when he was expelled. No one should be able to do that in a school bathroom. We understand he has a right to school until conviction but the school not punishing him for pornography on his devices doesn’t make sense. Why such leniency for one child? We have seen expulsion for much less.
As to the “rights” you say he has to an education…that is incorrect in this scenario. If your being charged, even though conviction is pending, you lost that right. Look at the law, not specific to rights, but specific to the charges being brought against him. A bond is given, and part of the bond should read no contact with anyone under 18 (minor) some say until hes convicted, he’s innocent. Correct, however there is a duty to protect the community, and here, specifically minors. Does this pervert pose a threat to his peers? Probably not, he prefers WAY younger, but the no contact with minors will keep him out of school.
It’s the schools part to protect other kids when parents fail.
Another loser downvote. You don’t want to defend why you disagree that the school is at fault? Must be a teacher who “cares” about the kids. Lmao
Well said!
I understand the chrome book issue.
This incident originally occurred in July if I read this correctly. I am going to suspect that there was something done. However, since this has now come out into the media the public wants to know. The school isn’t allowed to comment on what was done because this student has confidentiality rights by law.
Why the f*ck are there not filters on school-issued computers?!?!?
I’m a senior at wilmot, we have dozens of restrictions on the Chromebook’s, including YouTube, most news sites, basic school studying materials, etc. they have websites monitoring the Chromebook’s of every student all the time. A lot of times, you’ll get into a site, then a few seconds later it reloads and says it’s blocked and you no longer have access. I don’t know what the school was thinking but im glad I’m graduating soon so I can stop putting myself at risk of getting hurt by fights, threats, etc.
Don’t you turn computers in at the end of the school year? If not, are the filters turned off?
My understanding is that there are ways to go around them if you actually look into it and want to take the steps to do it. Takes a bit of hacking, but can be done. Meanwhile my kid gets locked out and needs a new machine because he forgot his password. Dumb as shit.
The words we use matter. When people say ‘child pornography,’ it can sound almost like a category of adult content, but it’s evidence of a child being abused.
Let’s be clear, this is CSAM, or child sexual abuse material. By avoiding the phrase ‘child pornography’ and using clear, accurate language like CSAM, we put responsibility where it belongs: on the offender.
Send it to Central, the allow sexual degenerates (trannys).
Truth!
jerking Jason be gone
Kerkman…I keep reading nothing but negative and immoral acts of this man. How long has he been in public…”service”?
I would say:
Too long.
What personal dealings could be more important than the safety of our children?
These are career government employees, both Sam and Chad. They have no idea of accountability for their actions. Sure, Sam has to win an election but she can do a lot of damage in between. Chad is just a punk that sucks on .gov teat and can’t be fired. He couldn’t care less what you think, just his little leftist echo chamber
Execute Jerking Jason
i love you tk
LEGALIZE CP I LOVE CHILDREN and i love rape
One way to push back is for the teachers to consider a strike. It’s a bold step, but it would clearly demonstrate that these policies don’t just endanger students — they put the whole school community at risk. If school board members and out-of-touch judges continue to ignore the harm being done, it’s time for them to be held accountable. At least the DA has enough common sense to continue to advocate for protecting the community.