(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha, Wis. – A former substitute teacher at Kenosha Unified School District’s Bradford High School was in court today, charged today with 14 counts of Sexual Misconduct by School Staff. He was also charged with three felony counts of Expose Child to Harmful Descriptions. If convicted, 32-year-old Alex R. Poyner faces nearly 60 years in prison.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Today, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis (R) asked for a $500,000 cash bail citing the danger to the public. The defense attorney asked for a $5,000 bail. Kenosha County Court Commissioner set bail at $50,000 cash. The Defense made several motions to dismiss most of the charges, but the motions were denied.
Poyner was in court today with a “turtle suit,” which is usually to given to someone who may be suicidal. Poyner made a cryptic post on Facebook yesterday after reading our story.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Poyner had previously been under scrutiny by the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) and was allowed to resign rather than be fired last year after discussing inappropriate sexual topics with students.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction declined to speak with KCE, but did list Poyner’s teaching license as “Under Investigation” today.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Investigation and Charges
According to the criminal complaint, on October 28, 2024, Kenosha Police Officer La’ Ryan Johnson, the school resource officer at Bradford High School, was alerted by an assistant principal about concerning messages received by a 15-year-old student, identified as Student X. The messages were sent via Instagram from Poyner, who had been a substitute teacher at Bradford High School from October 2020 until April 2024.
Student X reported that Poyner began messaging him at the start of 2024 after he inquired about the teacher’s departure from the school. The messages allegedly contained inappropriate sexual content, references to pop culture figures accused of abuse, and discussions of explicit acts. Concerned about the nature of the communication, Student X ceased responding to Poyner, prompting school officials to escalate the matter to law enforcement.
The Kenosha Police detective assigned to the case, discovered that Poyner had also worked as a substitute teacher at West Allis-West Milwaukee and Nicolet Union High Schools. During the investigation, it was revealed that Poyner had been placed on administrative leave at West Allis-West on October 20, 2024, due to allegations of misconduct. He resigned from that position on October 29, 2024, before the internal investigation concluded. Records also confirmed that Poyner had worked briefly at Nicolet High School in September 2024.
A review of Poyner’s Instagram messages revealed sexually suggestive and explicit language directed at the student. Messages contained references to illicit relationships, adult content, and discussions that law enforcement classified as predatory in nature. In one exchange, Poyner allegedly referenced engaging in inappropriate acts with students once they turned 18 and discussed specific sexual preferences and activities.
Admission
On November 11, 2024, the detective contacted Poyner, who admitted that his communication with Student X may have been inappropriate. While he described their conversations as “dancing around the line,” he denied any intention of engaging in physical misconduct. He claimed to use “dark humor” to relate to students and cheer them up. Despite his attempts to downplay the messages, law enforcement determined that the conversations warranted criminal charges.
Previous Warnings from School Officials
Internal documents reveal that Poyner had previously received warnings from school administrators regarding inappropriate discussions with students.
In an email dated December 6, 2023, then-principal Brian Geiger reprimanded Poyner for discussing his personal life with students, specifically stating that comments such as, “I like big Black dudes” were unacceptable. Poyner responded by acknowledging his mistake and promising to improve his professional conduct.
However, additional complaints surfaced in April 2024, leading to further warnings from school officials regarding his failure to follow lesson plans. On April 17, 2024, Poyner was again warned by Principal Geiger about concerns from both students and staff. Two days later, an email from KUSD Human Resources confirmed Poyner’s resignation after he expressed disinterest in continuing his employment.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more details emerge.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
31 Responses
I just wish we could have jacked up his pay and benefits for that 8 months a year he is “grinding” away with students.
What’s another 100 Million on your property taxes?
They failed with a vote on Tuesday in February when it was 5 degrees. (Designed low turnout by taxpayers)
Maybe they can try again on the 4th of July!
….. why KUSD decided to hold their referendum vote on a Primary Day instead of the General Election on April 1st ?
They could have picked either.
You would think that KUSD would want the most amount of voters to use their votes to weigh in on such an important issue !
Was there a strategy for that decision ?
Knowing that there would be less voters making such a huge decision ?
Conventional thinking is that school matters which are pushed for and supported by the school employees and a liberal school board will be most effective in a low turnout election because they are the most highly motivated. Many times, people who rent won’t turn out for something that raises property taxes because they foolishly don’t realize that their own rents will go up after a referendum like that passes as soon as their lease is over.
Bc, unfortunately, libs are better activists and come out in higher numbers to support the terrible ideas they have. Republicans aren’t as good as rallying and coming out to attend a school board meeting – let alone be bothered to vote.
By picking less common date, the school thought they’d get a higher dem turnout.
Why do Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioners let scum bags have such low bail amounts? Especially involving sex allegations with children involved?
You do realize that most teachers don’t have a spare 50k right?
It is actually proven that teachers are the number one percentage in America of millionaires. They are not underpaid. This monster never needs to see the light of day-we need capital punishment for all pedophiles
Do you think that a substitute teacher at Bradford should be assumed to be a millionaire?
Did you happen to take a glance at the salaries of people (including teachers) working at the public schools?
Yes. It’s around 50-70k per year for most teachers. So that is nearly an entire year’s salary for someone innocent until proven guilty. It is certainly not a terribly low amount of money.
The good thing is at least the new DA asked for 500,000 cash bond. Thankfully, it goes to show he’s not playing around with this kind of stuff! It got knocked down, but hopefully he will stay in custody for a long time
He now will get big black dudes. Just the way he likes it. Big bad booty daddy.
At least he is a former teacher.
Otherwise paid leave during the investigation.
How is what he did any different than what Enwright did?
Same. Perverted minds.
Exactly. So why the difference in what he’s being charged with.
Because there was no law at that point in the books to cover “grooming” behavior. There is now.
The difference is that it appears this guy was interested in the male students
It shouldn’t matter
What a perverted society America has turned into.
Hmmmm.I wonder what the core cause of that is?
Maybe he identified as a 15-year-old boy. We still have people supporting and promoting the idea that you can make up identities and they become real. Even Governor Skeletor pushes that crap.
Who in this world cares what someone identifies as. You are what you are.
LMAO no, there is truth.
Bottom line Xavier Solis is doing a great job. He will only get better as he gets into the groove.
So happy Kenosha County seen the light. Thanks for informing us Kevin.
Agree
Hopefully Solis won’t be lenient on the KUSD pedos still waiting their fate.
How many more Teachers are in the weeds that are doing the same thing, this is crazy it’s like 1 per month gets into hot water over these kinds of issues
i think someone needs to step in with the KUSD and get this under control ASAP. Do we send are kids to school to be prey or has KUSD just become one big SEX club ?
Sadly, the KUSD School Board and senior Leadership are run by the KEA.
Their priorities in order of importance:
1. Increase Teacher and ESC Pay
2. Overhire to decrease Teacher and ESC Workload
3. Increase Teacher and ESC Benefits
4. Reduce Teacher and ESC Accountability
5. Promote Far Left and Marxist Ideology and Indoctrination
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97. Improve Student Safety from School Shooters
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572. Improve Student Educational Outcomes
This man deserves death
Always worried Alex was being molested by older guys he was hanging out with in his younger years. He was always a very unique character growing up. Fucked up how often we see these stories of local pedophiles in kenosha. Don’t trust your kids with anyone!