RACINE COUNTY, Wis. — Racine County Sheriff candidate Captain Cary Madrigal lost her attempt to keep disciplinary records from public view after arguing in court filings that release of the records would unfairly damage her reputation, candidacy and privacy interests. A judge ultimately ordered the documents released, records that detail allegations she failed to properly respond to concerns involving a deputy who was later convicted in a major child pornography and child sexual exploitation case.

The records include allegations and witness statements involving a possible personal relationship between Madrigal and former deputy Preston Kite outside the workplace, including claims Kite rented property from her, concerns investigators re-interviewed Madrigal after receiving information they believed was inconsistent with portions of her earlier statements, and allegations she warned an employee he was on “thin ice” after referring to Kite as a “pedophile.” The records ultimately resulted in Madrigal receiving a 10-day suspension without pay tied to her handling of complaints involving Kite.

The records show Madrigal received a 10-day suspension without pay after an internal Racine County Sheriff’s Office investigation concluded she violated departmental policy in her handling of complaints and concerns involving former deputy Preston Kite.

According to the disciplinary findings, sheriff’s office employees raised concerns in 2023 about Kite allegedly sending “dick pics” and engaging in troubling conduct. Investigators concluded Madrigal failed to properly elevate the concerns, failed to ensure documentation was created and failed to take sufficient supervisory action despite serving as a captain and one of the highest-ranking members of the agency.

The file also contains witness statements suggesting some employees believed Madrigal had a personal relationship with Kite or that Kite rented property from her. The investigation materials do not establish a romantic relationship between the two, but investigators documented concerns from employees who questioned whether Madrigal’s relationship with Kite affected their confidence she would take action against him.

One witness reportedly told investigators Kite rented from Madrigal at one of her properties. Other witnesses expressed concern that Madrigal would protect Kite or minimize complaints involving him because of what they perceived to be a close relationship.

The disciplinary materials also reference allegations that Madrigal warned an employee he was on “thin ice” after referring to Kite as a “pedophile,” a statement critics argue contributed to a perception among some employees that concerns about Kite were not being welcomed or aggressively pursued.

The records further indicate investigators later conducted a follow-up interview of Madrigal after obtaining additional witness statements and information that appeared inconsistent with portions of her earlier account, raising further scrutiny about her handling of the matter.

Kite later became the subject of multiple criminal prosecutions in Racine County. Court records show he pleaded no contest Nov. 22, 2024, before Judge Jon E. Fredrickson to numerous felony charges involving child pornography and child sexual exploitation. He was sentenced Feb. 28, 2025.

Court records show Kite received 15 years in prison on one count of possession of child pornography along with multiple consecutive 25-year prison sentences tied to child sexual exploitation convictions. The broader investigation also included allegations involving hidden cameras allegedly used to secretly record men urinating in bathrooms and allegations that first surfaced after investigators said Kite exposed himself while in uniform at a highway rest stop and attempted to engage another man in sexual activity while on duty.

Madrigal attempted to prevent release of her personnel records by filing a Woznicki lawsuit in Racine County Circuit Court after a resident requested the documents earlier this year. Under Wisconsin law, public employees may seek judicial review before personnel records are released. Such lawsuits are rarely successful.

Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz ruled May 14 that the records had to be released. However, the judge also granted Madrigal 20 additional days to appeal the ruling, a delay critics argued could have pushed full disclosure deeper into election season.

Madrigal later announced she would not appeal and voluntarily released the records herself.

In a public statement, Madrigal acknowledged making “past mistakes” that caused “personal and professional embarrassment” but said those incidents should not define her character, integrity or decades of public service. She also stated she exercised her legal rights under Wisconsin law and denied having anything to hide.

Opponents of Madrigal told Kenosha County Eye they viewed the statement as tone deaf and disingenuous, arguing the issue was not merely embarrassment but whether a command-level supervisor responded appropriately to warnings involving a deputy later convicted of serious sex crimes involving children.

The records also reveal additional disciplinary incidents involving Madrigal throughout her career.

In 2012, Madrigal received a one-day suspension without pay after investigators concluded she consumed chocolate-covered cherries seized during a drug-related search warrant before authorities knew whether the candy contained narcotics or dangerous substances. According to the disciplinary findings, Madrigal admitted eating one piece and passing the candy around to other sheriff’s office employees.

Another discipline file from 2006 shows Madrigal received a one-day suspension after allowing a jailed drug suspect to use a telephone despite warnings from investigators that the inmate was not supposed to make calls because authorities feared evidence or money connected to a Milwaukee drug investigation could be moved or destroyed. Investigators concluded Madrigal knew or should have known the inmate was not to receive phone access.

A relatively minor written reprimand involving a preventable squad crash in 2021 also appears in the records.

The controversy has also renewed criticism of Sheriff Christopher Schmaling’s leadership. Critics have previously accused Schmaling of failing to terminate deputies who they believed should have been removed from law enforcement, including Kite and former detective Emil Ortiz.

Current Kenosha County Sheriff David W. Zoerner also appeared to signal support for Madrigal through his reaction to her social media statement regarding the records release. Zoerner himself filed a Woznicki lawsuit during the 2022 Kenosha County sheriff’s race in an unsuccessful effort to prevent release of disciplinary records tied to his prior law enforcement employment.

At Zoerner’s request, portions of Kenosha County Eye’s prior reporting on his disciplinary history were softened during the 2022 election cycle. Looking back, this author regrets that decision. Kenosha County Eye makes mistakes, and this was one of them. The outlet does not intend to take the same approach during the 2026 election cycle.

One of Madrigal’s most prominent supporters is Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson (D), who has been actively campaigning for her during the sheriff’s race. Hanson has publicly aligned herself with Madrigal’s candidacy as the election approaches.

Madrigal is widely viewed as a leading candidate in the Racine County sheriff’s race. Her primary opponent is Henry Perez, a former Racine alderman and former police officer.