(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 25-year-old Kenosha woman accused of choking a caregiver, then biting, scratching and spitting on Kenosha police officers while out on bail, is now facing her third criminal case in less than two months — but Court Commissioner Daniel “Catch & Release” Kellum continues to give her what can only be described as white-glove treatment. After twice releasing Rolexsea N. Curtis on no-cash bail, Kellum on Monday ordered her held on only $150 cash bail after prosecutors charged her with two new felony bail-jumping counts and marijuana possession. Curtis’s three cases now include allegations that she strangled a caregiver until he had difficulty breathing, committed multiple new felonies against police officers after Kellum released her, and then violated the conditions of both felony bonds by possessing marijuana. Across three initial appearances before Kellum, the progression has been no-cash bail, no-cash bail and, finally, only $150 cash.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
First Case: Alleged Strangulation — No-Cash Bail
Curtis first appeared before Kellum on Aug. 11 after prosecutors charged her with felony strangulation and suffocation as an act of domestic abuse, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer. As Kenosha County Eye previously reported, police were called to a Kenosha residence used by Unlimited Healthcare, where Curtis lived and received caregiving services. A live-in caregiver told police Curtis forcefully grabbed his shirt, knocked him to the floor and punched him approximately three times in the chest. Curtis then allegedly placed her hand around his neck and applied enough pressure that he had difficulty breathing. Another caregiver told police he witnessed Curtis grab the man’s neck for approximately five to 10 seconds.
Police said Curtis also resisted officers attempting to arrest her, pulling away, tensing her arms and grabbing a door handle while attempting to get back inside the residence. An officer eventually pointed a Taser at Curtis until additional officers arrived and she was taken into custody. Curtis faced a felony carrying up to six years in prison along with three misdemeanor charges, for a combined maximum exposure of 7 years and 9 months behind bars. Despite the violent allegations, Kellum required Curtis to post no money to get out of jail.
Second Case: Police Officers Allegedly Attacked — No-Cash Bail Again
Just eight days later, Curtis was arrested again. On Aug. 19, Kenosha Police officers located Curtis at the Shalom Center while attempting to arrest her following another reported disturbance. Prosecutors allege Curtis resisted Officers Venegas and Hill as they attempted to take her into custody. During the struggle, Curtis allegedly bit Venegas on the wrist, causing pain and injury. Police said Curtis later scratched and dug her fingernails into Hill’s arm hard enough to cause pain, bleeding and bruising before allegedly spitting directly into his face.
The new case resulted in six additional charges: two felony counts of battery to a public officer, felony throwing or discharging bodily fluids at a public safety worker, felony bail jumping and two counts of resisting an officer. Those charges carry a combined maximum exposure of 18 years behind bars. The felony bail-jumping charge was based on prosecutors’ allegation that Curtis committed the new crimes while already free under the bond Kellum had given her just eight days earlier. Despite the new felony charges, the alleged injuries to two police officers and the allegation that Curtis had already violated the conditions of her first felony bond, Kellum again required no cash for her release.
Third Case: Two More Felonies — Only $150 Cash
Curtis was arrested yet again Saturday, Oct. 3. According to the newest criminal complaint, Kenosha Police Officer Lovell knew Curtis had an active warrant when police received information that a woman matching her description was walking southbound on 39th Avenue from 45th Street. Lovell spotted Curtis in the 4800 block of 39th Avenue and approached her. “What’s up Ro-Ro?” Lovell said, using Curtis’s nickname, according to the complaint. “What’s up?” Curtis responded. Police informed Curtis she had an active warrant and took her into custody.
During a search, officers asked Curtis whether she had anything on her person that could hurt them. Curtis allegedly told police she had “weed” in her bra. A female officer was called to the scene and recovered a bag containing a green leafy substance, according to prosecutors. Police said the substance weighed 1.48 grams and tested positive for marijuana. Because Curtis remained subject to the conditions of both of her pending felony bonds, prosecutors charged her Monday with two counts of felony bail jumping — one for allegedly violating each bond — and misdemeanor possession of THC. Each felony bail-jumping charge carries up to six years in prison.
Curtis was then brought before the same court commissioner who had already released her twice on no-cash bail. This time, Kellum finally required her to put up money to secure her release: only $150. Kellum also ordered Curtis not to possess or consume alcohol or controlled substances without a prescription.
White-Glove Treatment From ‘Catch & Release’ Kellum
The sequence is striking. Curtis was accused of knocking her caregiver to the ground, punching him and strangling him until he had difficulty breathing. Kellum released her on no-cash bail. Eight days later, prosecutors say Curtis committed multiple new felonies while still on that bond, including biting one police officer, scratching another until he bled and spitting directly into his face. Kellum again released her without requiring a dollar of cash bail.
Now, after Curtis was arrested for a third time and charged with two additional felonies for allegedly violating both of Kellum’s previous release orders, the commissioner has increased Curtis’s financial stake in following court orders from zero dollars to only $150. Curtis now has three pending criminal cases containing seven felony charges and numerous misdemeanors, yet she has repeatedly received extraordinarily favorable bail treatment from Kellum.
For Curtis, Kellum’s approach has followed a remarkably consistent pattern: no-cash bail after an alleged strangulation, no-cash bail after an alleged attack on police while already on bail, and only $150 cash after prosecutors say she violated both bonds and picked up two more felony charges.
One Response
She’s needed a room with a view at Mendota for a long time. Crazy roaming the streets again.