KENOSHA, Wis. — An Arizona man was recently accused of committing a low-end financial crime in Kenosha. Former Court Commissioner William Michel issued a warrant with a bond amount of $25,000. The man was arrested in Arizona, and his $25,000 bond was posted. Court records show that he was released upon posting bail and then hired Kenosha criminal defense attorney Michael Cicchini to defend his Kenosha case.
However, in a strange twist of events, Cicchini has actually been fighting with Joint Services and Liberal Activist Supplemental Court Commissioner Tracey “Low-Bail” Braun, but Cicchini’s goal is an unusual one: he’s trying to get his client into court.
“The first thing I did,” Cicchini said, “was to contact the intake court for a voluntary appearance date. The voicemail warns not to call them twice. I waited several days, and no one responded to me.”
His next step was to go to Kenosha Joint Services, an intergovernmental agency comprised of, among others, the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. The agency performs a variety of functions, including records management, emergency dispatching, and, in cases like this one, accepting bail payments and entering and canceling warrants.
“This is another way to get a court date,” Cicchini explained. “I also wanted to make sure the warrant was withdrawn so my client could safely travel across the country. I don’t want him being stopped for an illegal lane change in Kansas, for example, and then getting arrested on the warrant after the $25,000 has already been posted.”
This is where the defense ran into trouble. Kenosha Joint Services wanted the defendant to be held, not released, so it refused to withdraw the warrant.
“That bureaucratic decision is contrary to the bond amount on the commissioner’s warrant,” Cicchini explained.
So he filed a motion and asked Liberal Activist Supplemental Court Commissioner Tracey “Low-Bail” Braun to cancel or stay the warrant so the defendant, an African-American male, could come to court on a voluntary appearance without fear of being stopped and arrested on a warrant, the conditions of which he has already satisfied.
According to court records, even the assigned ADA, Sarah Norkus, did not oppose Cicchini’s request. Despite that, Braun refused to vacate or even stay the warrant. Court records show that she did, however, give the defense a voluntary appearance date.
But this is problematic, Cicchini said.
“Joint Services warned me, and I told this to the commissioner, that if my client has any contact with any law enforcement officer anywhere, he will be arrested, even though the $25,000 bond amount on the warrant has already been posted.”
This poses a conundrum.
“If he’s pulled over in Arizona for a routine traffic stop,” Cicchini asked rhetorically, “does he have to post another $25,000?”
Cicchini said that, with Joint Services’ obstruction and without any help from the courts, his hope is that his client can make it safely to Kenosha. His goal is to then get the warrant canceled and obtain a no-cash bail.
“He’s already posted the $25,000 on the face of the warrant, he’s hired an attorney, and he is trying to come to court,” Cicchini said. “I don’t know what more he can do.”
A courthouse insider familiar with Kenosha’s criminal justice system said the situation is unlike anything he has seen.
“This is a very bizarre scenario,” the insider said. “Braun is usually doing her best to keep violent criminals out of custody, and in this case she’s presented with a white-collar allegation. The defendant has already posted the $25,000 bail voluntarily, yet he still faces the possibility of being arrested before he can even make it to Kenosha. That’s an extraordinary situation.”
21 Responses
I think I understand it. Maybe. Was the $25K actually posted on the warrant or did he go to court in Arizona and have $25K set by the Arizona court based on the Wisconsin warrant?
25k Based on the Wisconsin warrant , no charges in Arizona or nothing for him to have a bond out there
She’s never seen a burger she didn’t like!
Let’s see a photo of you so we can critique you.
For heaven sake take bills name off the desk. He was fired ….
Though this could be an old file photo that Kevin has of Tracey Braun using that chair. But if it isn’t then this is a perfect example of important minutiae that doesn’t get done that shows the poor leadership at the top.
It’s that leadership that allows stupid mistakes like this bond issue not only to happen but go unfixed once discovered and pointed out !
A lack of caring for the individuals involved regardless of the circumstances.
I thought that too, but that could be an older picture. Didn’t the judiciary ban reporters from intake court several months ago? Or did it just ban KCE, in retaliation for his reporting? Either way, more “great” work by the judicial branch!
And I , for one am quite happy about that.
This current court commissioner, rents an apartment above The Golden Corral.
What qualifications does she have to make any decisions
She’s friends with Iverson and Gabrielle
So she’s also a party girl?
I wish Mr. Cicchini would file a former complaint with the DOJ, advance this up the ladder if need be, facilitating a stop to these incompetent practices in the Kenosha Judicial systems. There needs to be an investigation.
Huh, I had never noticed, “Low-Bail” has more double chins than a Chinese phone book.
She love you long time
Doesn’t make since and also doesn’t make since how a non harmful crime like this. That’s minor get such a high bail (25k) but a girl who strangled her boyfriend with a cord and held a knife to his neck gets a bail of only $1,000 ?!
And that’s what’s lacking here !
Sure each case deserves its own story to hear but stricter guidelines should be adhered to !
She is Angelina’s protégé—another minion of the soon-to-be wife of Mr. Long Hose, the firefighter. What is alarming is how other judges fail to realize that Intake court is out of control. Of course, after the three years of fuck-ups on behalf of Billy The Useless, it will take a long time and close supervision to get Intake court running effectively again.
Cicchini should file for a DeNovo hearing. If that doesn’t get anywhere, take it to the court of appeals. Shove it up Braun’s big fat ass!
Again….as an ADA Tracey Braun was a train wreck. Why would being a court commissioner be any different?
She’s a man
Wouldn’t he have extradition from Arizona? Or no because he posted the bond? How did he have a bond if the warrant is “body only”. Something isn’t making sense.