(Background Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
On June 6, 2023, The Kenosha County District Attorney’s office declined to prosecute Michael B. Russell after several young high school girls complained of inappropriate touching. The incidents were first reported to the school by the students on February 24, 2023. KUSD refused to notify the Kenosha Police Department, but KPD learned of the allegations from DCFS. KCE blasted KUSD and the Kenosha County DA’s office in an op-ed published on June 25, 2023.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
According to the Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley, “conversations are always ongoing about whether any additional avenues can be pursued. In this case, those explorations resulted in more info.”
On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner William Michel signed a $20,000 cash arrest warrant for Russell’s arrest. He was charged with one felony count of Sexual Assault of a Student by School Staff and two misdemeanor counts of Disorderly Conduct. Russell faces six-and-one-half years in the Wisconsin Prison System if convicted.
According to the criminal complaint:
(Graphic Depictions, Sexual In Nature)
On February 24, 2023, “Annie”, who was 17 at the time, went to a teacher with complaints of inappropriate touching from Russell. Annie later told Kenosha Police that she knew Russell for about two years and was made uncomfortable by touching done by Russell. Annie explained that she was a cheerleader and at a basketball game, Russell lightly dragged his hand across her lower back twice. Annie said that at the Winter dance on February 11, 2023, Russell touched her in the collarbone area and “caressed” her bare shoulder near the strap of her dress with his fingers. She said later in the evening he touched her on her leg above her knee several times, again, in a caressing motion. She told Russell that she was having a party after the dance, and Russell asked Annie if “she was 18” so he could join her. Russell also told her to take off his shirt later that evening. Annie told police that all of these interactions made her uncomfortable.
Kenosha Police spoke with another 17-year-old named “Jenny” with similar complaints. Jenny began to notice that Russell would touch her often. If Russell was going by her he would often place his hand on her waist or her hip as he walked past. After this happened for a little while she began to move out of his path to avoid him touching her. One time in the fall of 2022 Russell touched her breast. Jenny was in the technology office talking to Russell when he extended his hand out and touched the middle of her chest on her breast, and lightly dragged his finger across her body to the side of her chest. She described him doing this at “medium” speed with no obvious purpose, like swatting off a bug or swiping debris off her. She said he used the back of his fingers and didn’t say anything or acknowledge it happened.
Another IT specialist at Indian Trail High School who shared an office with Russell shared some information with police. He brought up the name of another student, Kathy, who turned 18 in February of 2023, brought up the name of another student, Kathy. He advised that around the middle part of the Fall Semester of 2022, when Kathy was 17, Kathy would frequently assist with menial tasks. Russell described her has having a “TA like” role. This prompted a warning from Principal Mr. Kennow to Russell and the other IT specialist about how under no circumstances were they allowed to have a TA. There was a discussion between Russell and Kathy about the issue, and there seemed to be an agreement. Shortly after that, Kathy sustained an injury and was unable to participate in gym class, so she would spend her gym period in the technology office with Russell. The other IT specialist stated that he did warn Russell about spending too much time in the office with her. This prompted a second warning from Principal Kennow regarding the technology department not having a TA. At this point, Kathy would no longer stay in the office for long periods of time, but would occasionally stop by and say hello, like a fair number of other students. Kathy was interviewed during the initial investigation, but denied any inappropriate contact or communication with Russell. Russell was ultimately put on leave from the school.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Russell was fired in June of 2023 by the Kenosha Unified School District. Kenosha Police Detectives briefed Kenosha Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Smathers about the two allegations of sexual assault. Smathers, who is being sued for defamation, declined to issue charges and told police to close the case. No charges were filed. Russell lawyered up and hired criminal defense attorney Brian Dimmer. Russell refused to answer questions from the police during the investigation.
KCE spoke to parents of some of the Kenosha-area alleged victims and were told they plan to sue the district for negligence. KUSD spokesperson Tanya Ruder asked KCE to not “paint the district and/or district staff in a negative light” in June of 2023. We politely refused. We then ran our op-ed telling our readers how the DA’s Office and KUSD failed our community.
According to the criminal complaint (continued):
(Graphic Depictions, Sexual In Nature)
Kenosha Police reopened the investigation on September 1, 2023 after Kathy and her mother came to the Kenosha Police Lobby to report inappropriate sexual contact by Russell while Kathy was still 17. Kathy stated the inappropriate behavior occurred during school hours at the high school. The Kenosha Police Officer who first spoke to Kathy noted that Kathy was emotional and crying as she made her report, often needing to take breaks. Kathy told police that they had a normal friendship, but during her senior year, “it got weird.” Russell began to contact Kathy on her cell phone.
Kathy stated that things progressed when she was helping Russell put the computers in the carts and clean them. She would push the carts into a room where they were stored and it was in this room that Russell would ask her “inappropriate things.” Russell would close both doors to the room, ask her inappropriate questions, and start touching her. Russell would tell her that it was okay and there was nothing to be scared of. He would also tell her that it was okay because he and his wife had an open relationship.
Russell would ask if he could do sexual things to her. He would hug and squeeze her really tight, and not let go. He would ask what the difference was between Kathy’s boyfriend and Russell, and then tell Kathy that he has better experience than her boyfriend. Russell would ask her when she was going to come visit him. On multiple occasions, Russell would ask her to have sex with him in that closet where the computers were stored. He would ask her in different ways.
Russell would also touch her on her buttock. He would lift up her skirt and touch her butt. One time, he tried to pull her pants down. Kathy said, “What are you doing?” to him repeatedly, but Russell just replied “Don’t worry.” Kathy told him that she did not want to do that. Russell also, on one occasion, put his hand down inside of her pants and tried to put his hand “in there,” referred to her vagina.
As for the messages, Kathy stated that Russell would text her inappropriate things, including asking her to have sex. On one occasion, Russell sent her fully nude photographs of himself and asked, how “it looked.” Around February 27, 2023, Russell told her to delete every Facebook Messenger message between the two of them because he was on the way to the principal’s office. Kathy responded that she did not understand what that had to do with her, to which Russell replied, “just in case.” Russell again asked her to delete everything and that it “had to be gone” so it was like they were not friends. Kathy also got sent to the principal’s office and asked about a relationship with Russell. Kathy said she told the principal no, because Russell told her that everything they were doing was perfectly okay.
Kathy confirmed that Russell gave her a birthday gift in the form of $100 and a ring light for her cell phone. He did this by asking Kathy to drive around the back of ITHSA on either February 11 or 12, 2023. When she did, Russell opened her back door and put the present in her car. When she went to drive away, Russell reached his hand in her car and tried to lift up her skirt.
Kathy later met with a sensitive crimes detective who she told that she did not make any disclosures about her and Russell during the original investigation because Russell always told her that what they were doing was okay. Kathy believed Russell because he was a staff member and because she always confided in him when she had issues. Kathy stated that now she is out of school (having graduated), she understands what Russell did to her was wrong.
Kathy allowed the detective to download her phone. In reviewing the forensic download, he observed numerous Facebook Messenger messages between Kathy and Russell, dating back to March of 2023. These messages are time stamped and occur during the school day and at night. There are also numerous audio calls that occur after school and at night. In the messages starting March 14, 2023, Russell and Kathy discuss the internal investigation at Indian Trail High School. Russell tells Kathy about the meetings he is having with ITHSA staff and his attorney, and how things are “not good.” Kathy tells Russell which students she knows they are interviewing and tells him to “stay strong.”
On March 16, 2023, at 8:08PM, Russell writes, “I’m telling you…they trying to get your phone records.” Kathy responds, “They aren’t gonna pull them. My momma won’t let them.”
On March 17, 2023, Kathy tells Russell that her mom is going to call Principal Kennow. Russell writes, “I’m just worried that’s he’s gonna say something that makes her turn on me/us…”
On March 20, 2023, at 9:38AM, Russell writes, “I will always be near…even if not in the school…” “Besides…you will be leaving soon…so we gotta figure out what’s next.”
On March 21, 2023, Russell asks Kathy for a picture of herself, which she sends. She is clothed, but is exposing her sports bra. On March 21, 2023, at 7:02PM, Russell writes, “They are probably gonna fire me… Cause I lied about talking to you…they said you knew every thing about my meeting times and everything…you put all this in your statement…” Kathy denies putting anything in her statement regarding Russell’s meetings, and they agree to talk after school.
In reviewing the text messages, the detectives observed a number of text messages from Russell which were concerning and sexual in nature. Russell asks Kathy questions about her relationship with her boyfriend and Kathy describes some of the sexual experiences she has had.
On August 30, 2023, Russell texts, “Hot??? Girl…I would fuck your without break for 4-5 hours!! Every position-eat you out 2-3 times cum at least 3 times!” Russell asks if her boyfriend was her first and then asks if she would “want bigger.” He then writes, “It’s cool…I just hope I’m around when the day comes when you want more…” Russell asks Kathy if she still sleeps naked and to send him a video of her in bed. Kathy does. Russell then says that he “loved” her old videos and that he “misses them terribly.” He asks if she was going to make more videos for him.
Civil Suit In Illinois
A child in Illinois, who is a former member of Mt. Sinai Church in North Chicago, says that Russell groomed her and had sexual intercourse with her over a multi-year span when she was only in 8th grade according to Illinois court documents.
Russell is/was a trustee at the church. The church has another couple of familiar faces – Tamarra Coleman and her husband, Michael are leaders in the church. Michael is an associate minister at Mt. Sinai. In the court documents, it is alleged that the relationship between Russell and the little girl was common knowledge at the church. Tamarra, who was the president of the Kenosha Unified School Board and is the current executive director of the Shalom Center, seemed to deny even knowing Russell. KCE later learned that not only does she know him, but he is her brother-in-law. Russell is married to her sister.
After being confronted with this news, she still denied knowledge of the alleged sexual assaults, but admitted she knew her brother-in-law, but told KCE “knowing someone and knowing their personal business is very different…And sir, the behavior of people I may or may not know do not define me, nor my character!” She wouldn’t tell us why she misled us initially and said she was calling her lawyer. Tamarra reportedly helped her brother-in-law Russell obtain a job at the Kenosha Unified School District in September of 2013.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The Kenosha Unified School district was notified of the allegations about the sexual assaults at the Illinois church in 2021. According to law enforcement records, the HR department kept an eye on Russell and told him not to allow any students to be in his Internet Technology room alone with him. A fellow employee of the High School, however, said that the district wouldn’t enforce this rule, and allowed Russell to have students alone in his room anyway. Russell assigned several girls to be his Teacher’s Assistants (TA’s) even though he didn’t have authority to do this. School staff also didn’t cooperate with the law enforcement investigation in Kenosha. They wouldn’t answer detectives’ questions. Superintendent, Jeff Weiss (D), wouldn’t tell us why he is so weak on sexual assault and harassment allegations in the district.
Russell is currently wanted and will stand trial once he is in custody.
58 Responses
Go kusd! Always in the news. Between barker, gross and the other clowns in kusd that want to be friends with kids, what a joke.
He probably isn’t hard to find….look for places that serve Hennessy.
Or fried chicken. Or watermelon.
Or the welfare office
So the DA plays god ? F him and may his soul rot in hell
Can you say libtarded dumocratic morons ruining this fucking world????
shut your fat white lard slurping greasy double chin ass up i bet u eat boiled chicken u weird ass mf, you 100% drink bacon grease and ranch u mayo eating ass bitch u definitely eat frozen hotpockets and expired lunch meat u oily ass pig, youre so fucking obese your fat spills over the edge of your bed when youre sleeping
Show some sensitivity for the girls that were sexually assaulted. Lets remember they may be reading this.
And the government fails to protect us until they are shamed into doing something !!
Vote all of them out !!
Fire those that aren’t elected !!
Kudos to the police and district attorney for charging this brother. Why didn’t they charge the white guy who was killed by Chrystul Kizer?
You’re trying hard to bring In race. All that’s doing is showing your racism. But hey, you tried. Looked dumb doin it but….
I am really wondering why they did not charge that white guy who was having sex with under aged girls. The police and district attorney had videos of him engaged in the sex acts with these girls.
Since you seem to know, please tell me and the rest of us. Was it because he was a white guy having sex with underaged black girls? If not, explain why he was not charged. Thanks.
why are you so racist?
Why is it racist to question what appears to be racism on the part of law enforcement officials? Please explain. Calling someone names is not explaining.
Again trying. But looking real dumb there Andy. Maybe it’s because they were investigating still, and as you can see Kizer is in more trouble, so isn’t the saint the left liberals tried to paint. I’m sure you can think for yourself. But seems like not
I am not Andy.
The police and DA knew of the videos of this pedophile having sex with underaged girls. They talked to a young girl who escaped from his house. They had the evidence they needed to charge this dangerous guy and get him off the streets. This would have protected the community. That didn’t happen. This guy was able to continue to prey on teenaged girls. Tell me how that is OK?
Also, explain how Kizer’s current problems justifies what happened with this case many years ago. Is it because she is black and the pedophile is white. That’s what it looks like to me.
It’s because her life choices. How sad are you that you make everything about race? Andy
I am not Andy. Who is Andy?
Help me understand. This black girl’s life choices factored into the decision to not charge the white guy who was having sex with underaged girls. What about the white guy’s life choices? He chose to have sex with underaged girls. Why wasn’t he held accountable and charged? Maybe it has nothing to do with race. Since you claim it isn’t, please convince me.
Totally different. Stay on topic .
Andy is trying to stay relevant.
STOP WITH THE RACISM. THE BIGGEST RACISTS ARE THE ONES THAT ACCUSE OTHERS OF BEING RACIST. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THESE YOUNG GIRLS BEING SEXUALLY ASSULTED AND THEIR LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED.
So the Coleman’s brought North Chicago to Kenosha with them. African costumes and all! A Pastor and his wife? Yeah……
Tamara is such a fat cow poser. And a crook! Probobaly joined him!
As Hillary once said, SUPER PREDATORS!
This is a perfect example of it.
Wow! She was right about something!
Because her husband is one that’s the only reason she got that right so don’t give her too much credit she still married the libtarded dumocratic asshole!
Why does the Kenosha School District continually hire pedophiles? Between the pedophile staff and the schools providing porn to the children, it is a wonder the kids learn anything. Parents, pull your kids out of the public schools!
Social Justice Reform in action.
Gravely has a thing for Black men I’m sure there was touching to drop the charges .. look at who he doesn’t prosecute … He’s a homosexual who like black Dudes ..
Man is his “ass” getting punished!
Kevin,
Please pull his KUSD file. Also do a deep dive into his past. I believe he was convicted of a sexual assault of a child. Wondering if KUSD did background check. If so why hire him.Also there was a sign outside his office stating no kids were to be alone in his office.
Idgaf what race this dude is, he needs to be prosecuted and serve some time! It looks like his behavior had turned heads the opposite direction….shame on y’all!
Coleman tied to this scum, wow! But not surprising. I’m sure he’s going to get a job at Shalom Center next. She’ll look the other way.
A quick Google search showed that evidently he works at her sister’s nonprofit in Illinois. The UMMA Center. Wonder what they make of all of this?
Coleman stealing from shalom
Jesus Fucking Christ!!
The Coleman’s…… hmmm … any relation to Alton?? 😳
For Alton’s last meal he ordered a WELL-DONE filet mignon 😂. Of course.
it is racist to hold colored folks accountable for their filthy behavior at tax payer non-educational facilities. .
It is racist to hold them accountable of “ANYTHING” but when it comes to violent crimes they are committing “MOST OF THEM”!!! FUCK THIER RACIST CRIES!
100%!
What?????? That’s the dumbest thing I have ever read.
We know Yo-yo loves pedos…. Her son is one…. Don’t criminals protect each other….. probably why KUSD didn’t do sh7t about this, or any of the other pedos
This dude be R Kelly’s biggest fan.
Dear Kevin,
I don’t always agree with what u say and do but thank you for reporting this. I’m going to give you some insight and feel free to look into it …….
1. Staff knew and did report. Bc he was having relations with asst principals and other high up teachers, the teachers that did report were either let go or sent to other schools. And for the race baiters…..they were black employees that tried to stop it and were let go.
2. This fall (yes fall of 2023) he attended a foot ball game at ita and sat and watched the cheerleader in question. When security/teaching staff asked if they should remove him because it was not appropriate…. barker and sro block said no. The following week he was given a legal letter from kusd telling him to stay off of kusd property (find that document please) because staff and teachers were trying to protect the children. So note that barker and the cop on campus protected him.
So in short……teachers did try and stop him and some lost their jobs or we relocated. Teachers afterward tried to stop him at the game and the good old boys club stopped those good teachers.
3. I don’t know why we make it about race because the one thing that connects them all is they were predatory men (of all races) protected by other men in high up positions (like school resource officers like block, community leaders like barker and admin like kennow). Screw race and all that stupid sexuality book bullshit…..the problem is clear. The Kenosha unified boys club is the problem.
I guess the question should be why did the DA get the report 9 or 10 months before football, and there were no charges to preclude him from school property or within proximity to the victim?? Can the police department ban people from private property?
It technically it is not private property. However, the school district should have been able to get a restraining order, even if the DA did not issue charges. If charges were issued and this guy was released on bond, there could certainly be a bond condition keeping him off of school district property.
There is read the conditions on ccaps. He was arrested with 5000 bond and conditions.
I’m so sick and tired of the cries of racism!!! Who’s neighborhood’s are destroyed more by hoodlums & gangster vandalism? Who’s involved in most violent crimes, period??? I don’t even have time to waste on this but if so I’d go on and on! Thanks to your black president Obama for crying out for his black folk about racism racism racism and for giving in to a bunch of criminals that cops are even afraid to enforce laws against them for fear of going to prison over maybe needing to shoot one and have the entire black population and their media come out against him. Jacob Blake deserved what he got just like most of them deserved what they got including the one they all burnt cities down over so fuck all your racism bullshit and do something about your scumbag people! The DA should go fuck himself too!
You need to chill and get some counseling.
SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ALOT OF THIS GOING ON AT INDIAN TRAIL . MAY BE THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEVERE INTERVENTION INTO THIS SCHOOL ,
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT KIDS DO WHAT THEY WANT AT THIS SCHOOL IE , GET HIGH IN BATHROOM HAVE SEX IN BATHROOMS THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SUPERVISON AND NOT ONLY FOR THE STUDENTS BUT FOR THE STAFF ..
I’m reading micheal russell wife wow and how long have they been married and what part is she playing in this and the fat cow lied about not knowing him then there is pictures posted on the article that he is her brother in law and she hasn’t had any charges or the wife fie knowing he was a freak for underage girls let be honest these kids didn’t deserve what he did he is a grown man bit the system turns there back it’s not about colored it about rite and wrong you have heard nothing else how does he go from a 20k bond to 5k strange send him his wife and the sister in law to jail for knowing and not saying anything protecting him if you wad a parent how would you have handle this
Perhaps anyone with information on activities like this should report them to admin, CC Jeffrey Weiss and the school board members. Blanket statements don’t do anything.
That’s like saying there are drunk drivers all over every road, and yet the person saying it never picked up there 1200$ phone and called 911 to report it. Ask Weiss and the board to present their findings on each individual report at the next board meeting, and how they will correct any problem they find.
While they’re at it, ask Weiss and the board to individually answer if their is “systemic racism in KUSD”. If they say yes, ask to identify where it is and how many days it will take to remove the now identified problem.
AKA Michael X Russell.
Wtf is in the water at ita???
This guy is going before the court today for pretrial at 1:00 PM. Can the good people of Kenosha put aside the arguments about who, what, why, racial issues and pray that they throw the book at Michael Russell for the sake of all the young girls that he ruined mentally and physically? Let’s also keep all of the young ladies that had to endure his abuse in our thoughts and prayers. They need justice to be served so they can heal and move on with their lives.
Thank you to the very brave girls that stepped up and reported this to the police. If he is convicted, and because of their brave actions they will be protecting so many girls he would have assaulted in the future. Most importantly, he will finally be listed as a Sexual Offender and never work in a school again. If any of them are reading this you need to know you did nothing to deserve this. You are hero’s for reporting what he did to you. No one should ever invade your personal space or speak to you in such a disgusting manner. I am so sorry that the responsible individuals at KUSD that knew about his history let you down by not providing the safe environment that you always needed. We are proud of you and support you in every way. I truly hope to see protesters outside the courthouse when this goes to trial in support of these young ladies.
Let’s all put our thoughts and energy into supporting these brave young ladies!
Thank you Kenosha!
Bailed reduced so him and his wife can take a trip to Hawaii. Is that how the justice system works now. Noted
It’s so sad that people would allow him to do this and that’s not his sister that’s his wife she works at umma and I’m sure everyone there knew what was going on