(Still from CBS 58 Pool Camera)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha father charged in connection with the Thanksgiving-night fire that killed his three children walked out of court Wednesday without paying a penny after Liberal Activist Supplemental Court Commissioner Tracey “Low Bail” Braun ordered no-cash bail, allowing him to leave the courthouse despite District Attorney Xavier Solis requesting $500,000 cash bail and despite Braun later stating on the record that she found a reasonable basis that bail was necessary to ensure future appearances, reduce risk of harm, and avoid possible witness intimidation.
Joshua P. Kannin, 39, appeared Wednesday for his initial appearance after prosecutors charged him with three felony counts of child neglect causing death in the deaths of Rylee Levi Kannin, 10, Connor Liam Kannin, 9, and Alena Ellen Kannin, 7, who died in the devastating Nov. 27, 2025 apartment fire at 5221 43rd Avenue. The three charges carry a combined maximum penalty of 75 years in prison and $300,000 in fines if he is convicted on all counts.
Kannin walked out of court after the hearing without paying money and doesn’t even have to have his mugshot or fingerprints taken.
The hearing itself became emotional at times.
The children’s mother, Jourdan Feasby, addressed the court directly and asked the court not to lose sight of the magnitude of what happened.
“I’m asking the court to consider the seriousness of what happened and the devastating loss of three innocent children and the negligence of the person that was supposed to protect them,” Feasby told the court. “Nothing will bring them back and I want their lives to matter and I want justice for them.”
Solis argued for $500,000 cash bail, telling the court the allegations stemmed from an extensive investigation and requesting no-contact conditions involving Feasby and other family members. He noted that while the matter came into court through a summons process, charges were filed only after a lengthy investigation by law enforcement and prosecutors.
Defense attorney Patrick Cafferty, described by many around the courthouse as a respected and effective defense attorney, argued that Kannin voluntarily cooperated with investigators, voluntarily met with police after charges were issued, hired counsel, and appeared in court exactly as directed.
Cafferty repeatedly argued that Wisconsin bail law does not permit bail to be used as punishment and argued that Kannin presented no meaningful flight risk because he had known charges were coming and still appeared in court.
He then made a statement that immediately caught the attention of courtroom observers:
“A signature bond is warranted here. I would ask that you have the courage to do that.” In Kenosha County Eye terminology, Cafferty was requesting no-cash bail, meaning Kannin would not have to post money to walk out of court.
Multiple courthouse observers later told Kenosha County Eye they found the wording unusual because they do not commonly hear direct appeals framed around “courage” during routine bond arguments.
Several people who attended the hearing also told Kenosha County Eye they believed Braun appeared to already have a decision in mind before arguments had concluded.
What happened next immediately generated criticism and confusion among several people in attendance.
Braun later stated on the record:
“This court finds that there is a reasonable basis to believe that bail is necessary to ensure this defendant’s future appearance, to reduce the risk of serious harm to the community and avoid possible witness intimidation.”
Despite making those findings, Braun then proceeded to order no-cash bail, allowing Kannin to leave the courthouse without posting money.
Four separate courthouse insiders later told Kenosha County Eye they believed Braun appeared to be reading from what sounded like a pre-written script during portions of her ruling. According to those sources, that may explain what they viewed as contradictory statements — specifically acknowledging a reasonable basis existed for bail while still ordering no-cash bail.
Multiple courthouse insiders also told Kenosha County Eye they believed Braun was “duped” by defense arguments concerning Wisconsin bail law and recent constitutional changes involving bail standards.
Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment on April 4, 2023, expanding factors courts may consider when setting bail for defendants accused of violent crimes, including public safety, prior convictions, the need to protect community members from serious harm, the probability of conviction and the potential sentence. Several people familiar with courtroom proceedings told Kenosha County Eye they believed Braun’s comments suggested confusion regarding how those changes apply.
Kenosha County Eye was also told by courthouse insiders that they believed Judge Chad Kerkman, who has the honorary title of Deputy Chief Judge, may have influenced the broader approach taken in the case. Sources described the title as administrative and honorary, not a role that gives Kerkman authority to direct another judicial officer’s bail decision. Kenosha County Eye has not independently confirmed that information.
Feasby Says Court Decision Deepened Her Pain
Following the hearing, Jourdan Feasby told Kenosha County Eye that she left the courthouse devastated and disappointed, saying her understanding of what occurred was that Braun acknowledged circumstances supporting cash bail before ultimately deciding on no-cash bail instead.
Feasby stressed that she understood Braun had the authority to set whatever bail conditions she believed were appropriate, regardless of how she reached the decision, but said she had wanted Braun to impose the $500,000 cash bail requested by District Attorney Xavier Solis.
“I just saw the smirk on his face,” Feasby told Kenosha County Eye. “I just think he shouldn’t be out when my kids are in the ground.”
She said watching Kannin walk out of the courtroom was one of the hardest moments she has experienced since losing her children.
“Like he gets to go and leave that courtroom and enjoy a beautiful day when I wanna take my kids to a park,” she said.
Feasby also told Kenosha County Eye that she was upset with defense attorney Patrick Cafferty, saying she felt disrespected after he attempted to limit portions of what she was saying to the court and argued that comments should remain focused on bail-related issues. Feasby said she believed victims in serious cases are generally given substantial flexibility to explain the impact of a tragedy and felt frustrated by the exchange.
She also said District Attorney Xavier Solis told her that additional misdemeanor charges could potentially be added to the case.
Feasby said she walked out of court feeling that she had placed trust in her children’s father and was let down by both the deaths of her children and what she described as negligence.
“I put my trust in my children’s father and I was let down by their deaths and his negligence,” Feasby told Kenosha County Eye. “Today I lost confidence in the court system.”
Feasby also told Kenosha County Eye that she believes “the evidence is absolutely undisputed” regarding responsibility for the deaths of her children.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The charges stem from the Thanksgiving-night fire that devastated the Kenosha community and led to months of investigation involving Kenosha police, Kenosha fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to the criminal complaint, Kannin told investigators he had been sleeping upstairs with Alena while Connor and Rylee slept in another room. He later told investigators he woke up after noticing smoke, went downstairs and saw what he described as “a little fire on the kitchen floor” and “a tiny little thing.”
Investigators said Kannin reported panicking and running outside for help rather than immediately removing the children from the apartment.
Firefighters later located Alena suffering catastrophic burns and flew her to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, where she died the next day. Connor and Rylee were later found deceased inside the apartment.
Wednesday’s hearing ended with Kannin walking out of court without paying a penny while facing charges connected to one of the most devastating tragedies Kenosha has seen in recent memory.
5 Responses
The only thing more sad than this guy walking out without bail is the mother acting like she was this great mother and parading around for sympathy since this happened. Both of these piece of shit parents should be behind bars.
How do u know what kind of mom she was? Seems decent to me.
Exactly. That’s precisely how she plays her self out to be. She isn’t. She should be in jail, too.
Look at the three.
Pitiful that they couldn’t have been born to a living family.
At least they are angels now and in a beautiful place.
Kids Mom said Solis screwed up again causing the signature bond. Don’t hate the system, it’s the DA once again. When is enough, enough? Asking for a friend…….