KENOSHA, Wis. — Jacqueline P. Niccolai, 39, of Kenosha, a therapist and former foster parent, pleaded not guilty June 10 to seven criminal charges across two separate Kenosha County cases and was formally arraigned before the court. Despite the pending criminal cases, Niccolai has continued posting about the prosecutions online, including a recent social media post in which she mocked the proceedings and portrayed herself as “Kenosha’s Most Wanted.”

One of the cases accuses Niccolai of twice violating a four-year harassment injunction obtained by Kenosha County Eye Publisher Kevin Mathewson. The second case charges Niccolai with criminal defamation, two counts of bail jumping, unlawful use of a computerized communication system, and disorderly conduct. Court records show Judge David O. Hughes is assigned to both cases, with status conferences scheduled for July 17, 2026.

At her June 10 initial appearance, the court found probable cause in both matters and entered not guilty pleas. Supplemental Court Commissioner Lisa Bouterse imposed no-cash bail conditions in both cases, including a prohibition on contacting Mathewson. Bouterse also ordered Niccolai to complete the booking process within 72 hours. Court records indicate Niccolai was not booked within that time frame and instead completed the booking process 12 days later, on June 22, 2026.

Last week, Niccolai published a mock booking-style image of herself labeled “Kenosha’s Most Wanted.” The photo featured apparent marker-drawn gang-style facial tattoos, a large “262” written across her neck, additional markings on her face and chest, and a grill covering her teeth.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Niccolai acknowledged that booking staff would not process her while the markings remained on her face. According to her own account, she was directed to remove the markings and return. Niccolai later returned after attempting to wash off the marker but was still unable to remove it sufficiently and was again not booked that day. She subsequently suggested the repeated refusals were the product of coordination between the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, despite standard booking requirements regarding a defendant’s appearance and identifying photographs.

The post generated substantial discussion online. Many commenters questioned why a licensed therapist and former foster parent facing multiple criminal charges would intentionally portray herself with apparent gang tattoos and a grill covering her teeth while mocking the criminal justice process. Others openly questioned her judgment and mental state.

Niccolai is also facing a separate operating while intoxicated case stemming from an arrest by the Kenosha Police Department. In a previous case, Niccolai was charged with operating a firearm while intoxicated, during which she threatened to kill police officers and tried to kick out the windows of a squad car. Both matters remain part of a growing list of legal issues facing the Kenosha therapist and former foster parent. Below is video from that incident.

The newest case, filed May 28, 2026, accuses Niccolai of two counts of knowingly violating a harassment injunction. Prosecutors allege she knowingly contacted Mathewson through the Scanner Watch of Kenosha County Facebook page after the injunction had already been entered. According to the criminal complaint, investigators concluded Niccolai knew the page belonged to Mathewson personally and nevertheless posted comments directed at him.

Prosecutors allege those communications were not merely rude internet comments, but prohibited contact under the injunction. The complaint states Niccolai’s own words demonstrated she knew the injunction existed, knew the dispute involved contact with Mathewson, and intentionally directed the comments to a page she knew belonged to him personally. Prosecutors allege the violations occurred when Niccolai contacted Mathewson through the Scanner Watch of Kenosha County Facebook page and referred to him as a “fucking idiot,” described the page as being created by “someone clearly retarded,” and called him a “pussy ass bitch.” Prosecutors allege those comments constituted prohibited contact under the court order.

Calling someone a “fucking idiot,” “clearly retarded,” or a “pussy ass bitch” is generally protected speech in the United States. Prosecutors are not alleging those words themselves were criminal. Rather, the criminal allegations stem from the fact that Niccolai was allegedly prohibited from contacting Mathewson at all because of a harassment injunction that was first granted by a court commissioner and later upheld by a circuit court judge following a hearing.

In recent social media posts, however, Niccolai has repeatedly attempted to characterize the prosecutions as punishment for merely “calling a blogger a bitch on the internet.” That is the explanation she has repeatedly provided to her followers regarding the pending criminal charges.

Court records show the allegations are substantially broader. In the older criminal case, prosecutors allege Niccolai falsely accused Mathewson of being a pedophile, child rapist, adult rapist, child beater, woman beater, drunk while intoxicated, sexual predator, and other serious criminal conduct. Those allegations form the basis for the criminal defamation charge, while prosecutors also charged her with two counts of bail jumping, unlawful use of a computerized communication system, and disorderly conduct.

Some of Niccolai’s supporters on social media have echoed her claim that the criminal cases stem solely from her use of insulting language. Many of those supporters are individuals who have previously been featured in Kenosha County Eye reporting or have had their own involvement with the criminal justice system. Court records, however, show that prosecutors are alleging conduct far beyond name-calling, including alleged criminal defamation and violations of a court-ordered injunction. Under the terms of a harassment injunction, a restrained person is generally prohibited from contacting the protected person, regardless of whether the communication is polite, insulting, threatening, or otherwise.

Additional communications reviewed by Kenosha County Eye have also drawn scrutiny. In messages reviewed by Kenosha County Eye, Niccolai stated she was willing to commit perjury on behalf of friends and accept whatever consequences might follow.

Beyond the criminal cases, Niccolai is also defending a civil defamation lawsuit filed by Kenosha County Eye Editor Kevin Mathewson. The civil case is assigned to the same judge presiding over her criminal matters, Judge David O. Hughes. Niccolai recently lost several pretrial motions in that case and has filed appeals seeking review by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

In a separate social media post published the night before she was scheduled to return for booking, Niccolai claimed an unknown man repeatedly called and texted her during the early morning hours, made sexually explicit comments, and sent her a collage containing mugshots that had previously been published by Kenosha County Eye. She wrote that she became frightened and contacted police after the caller allegedly told her he was on his way to her home.

Although Niccolai never directly accused Mathewson of making the calls or sending the messages, she repeatedly referenced Kenosha County Eye throughout the post. Several readers subsequently forwarded the post to Kenosha County Eye and said they interpreted the post as suggesting his involvement.

The mugshots referenced in the post are public records that can be accessed by anyone through the Kenosha County Jail inmate locator website. Mathewson was not involved in the alleged calls, text messages, or other communications described by Niccolai and unequivocally denies any connection to them.

Throughout the parties’ ongoing disputes, Mathewson has relied on legal remedies, including obtaining a harassment injunction, reporting alleged violations to law enforcement, and pursuing complaints through the court system rather than engaging in personal retaliation.

Mathewson does not condone the conduct described in the post. Anyone sending vulgar messages, making unwanted late-night phone calls, or otherwise harassing Niccolai should stop immediately. Such conduct is inappropriate and mirrors the type of behavior that led a court to issue a four-year harassment injunction against Niccolai in the first place. Whatever disputes may exist between the parties should be addressed through lawful means, not harassment.

Niccolai remains free on no-cash bail while both criminal cases proceed through Kenosha County Circuit Court. If convicted on all seven charges across both cases, she faces a combined maximum penalty of four years in jail, along with substantial fines and court costs under Wisconsin law.