(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Editor’s Note: This article was updated after publication. See the editor’s note at the bottom for more information about a felony charge that was later dismissed.
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha County jury took about 10 minutes to find 36-year-old Terrance D. Love not guilty on all three charges in a domestic violence trial stemming from a 2025 incident involving his then-girlfriend. The swift verdict came after jurors expressed deep skepticism of the complaining witness’s testimony, citing what they described as a total lack of physical evidence, an unconvincing testimony, and negative demeanor on the stand.
The charges — felony strangulation and suffocation, misdemeanor battery, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct — were tied to allegations that Love assaulted the woman in a home on 29th Ave.
Kenosha County Eye was present for the entire one-day trial. Jurors heard from the complaining witness, a Kenosha Police officer, and Love himself. However, multiple jurors later told Kenosha County Eye that they were quickly unanimous in their decision. “We didn’t believe her,” one said plainly. Another pointed to the prosecution’s failure to present any corroborating evidence: “There was zero physical evidence. Nothing matched what she said.”
Kenosha County Eye spoke with three jurors after the verdict — the foreman and two women — who confirmed the panel’s confidence in its decision. The jury consisted of nine women and three men.
One juror went further, describing the complaining witness’s testimony as evasive and “disingenuous,” particularly when she claimed that reviewing her own body-camera footage wouldn’t help refresh her memory. Another cited her confrontational behavior toward dispatchers, officers, and the defense — at one point attempting to block attorney Michael Cicchini’s view of her by repositioning a courtroom monitor.
Jurors were also impressed that Cicchini exposed the existence of an eyewitness — a relative of the complaining witness — who had told police she witnessed the entire interaction and that no physical contact occurred. This, jurors said, further undermined the prosecution’s case and reinforced their unanimous decision to acquit.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Cicchini, a well-known legal author and criminal defense attorney, earned high praise from the jury. One juror called his performance “A+,” noting that his cross-examinations exposed inconsistencies in the state’s case and highlighted the lack of any tangible evidence. One juror signaled that the case was so weak that it should not have been charged and certainly not taken to trial. The trial was presided over by Judge Jason Rossell.
“As for this case, Terrance and I are obviously very grateful for the jury’s work,” Cicchini told Kenosha County Eye following the verdict. “People should understand that any allegation — no matter how weak — can make its way into a criminal complaint. But the jury evaluates that allegation and the evidence. The jury is the last line of defense for a citizen who is accused by the state. This jury did a fantastic job.”
That victory, however, came just 24 hours after the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office filed a new felony charge tied to the same complaining witness and based on the same underlying incident. The charge was filed the day before the jury trial began — a move some observers are calling vindictive or retaliatory, especially in light of the prosecution’s glaring evidentiary weaknesses.
According to a legal expert consulted by Kenosha County Eye, the new case cannot lawfully proceed now that Love has been acquitted of the underlying charges. Yet as of publication, no dismissal has been filed by prosecutors. Court records show that Cicchini is also representing Love on the new case, and District Attorney Xavier Solis has declined to comment on whether his office intends to pursue it.
Cicchini is already hard at work. “As for the second case, I don’t have any comment or opinion about the prosecutor’s motive. My research, however, shows that the case is not viable. I have already filed a motion to dismiss.”
Editor’s Note (January 22, 2026, 6:15 p.m.): This article has been updated to reflect that on January 21, 2026, a Kenosha County court commissioner dismissed a new felony charge of intimidating a victim that was filed against Terrence D. Love after his jury acquittal. The charge was dismissed following a defense motion filed by Attorney Michael Cicchini.
18 Responses
Is this the 2nd article in the last 10 days about trials resulting in acquittal?
Its not that I am against the decision but rather the DA taking these cases to trial.
bingo, “People should understand that any allegation — no matter how weak — can make its way into a criminal complaint. ” This is a huge fucking problem
This overreach by the DA’s office, which is filled with a bunch of clowns. This goes all the way to the top. Think of the expenses that common folk spend defending themselves. And how many innocent, mostly poor people are convicted?
Nailed it perfectly. Still a too large cultural Feminine Culture overhang with its “Meetoo”+”Ja-cuse” movement remains – i.e., final judgement direct with unproven accusal. This must be reversed for a proper balance of justice.
Sounds like the “believe ALL women” crowd in here. Did you type that with your pink pussy hat on, too?!
Double jeopardy -you cannot retry on the same charges!
How long was he in jail? She should be in 2x the amount for lying .
She should face the time he did for lying. That would stop this
Is the jury racist for not believing her though?
Who is this woman ? Will she face disciplinary action for making false charges ? I’d like to know
I don’t know any details. But the article says reviewing the body camera footage of herself wouldn’t refresh her memory (according to her). I’m assuming she just does not want to assist with the prosecution. This is very common. The mandatory arrest laws were put into place about 50 years too late, and undermine (mainly) women’s discretion of making a complaint or not. It forces law enforcement to arrest, and then the DA’s look bad if they don’t prosecute these to “protect” victims that don’t believe they are victims. There should be a verbal waiver and written waiver on these law enforcement encounters.
The idea was good in nature, but was for a time when it was common for women to “stay home and raise the children”. Those days are over (for nearly all), so give people the choice as an adult and let them roll the dice with their domestic partners……
She was nasty like that to the Defense. She wanted Mr. Love in jail in a bad way.
Our justice system was set up so a guilty man would go free before an innocent man would be jailed. No system can ever be perfect. If he was found not guilty by peers, it seems a waste of time. Innocent until proven guilty, for better or worse it’s our system.
Why does a society believe women only? I think many good men have had issues but I’ve seen women turn those issues into criminal charges. I just want to say I’m a woman. Some women are very vindictive and devious. Society needs to open there eyes.
What!? No bail complaints? I hope it wasn’t a million dollars like everyone seems to want lately. Innocent until PROVEN guilty.
So they got into another altercation and she’s pressing charges again?
No. They charged him with another felony for the same exact incident
I think people should stop using police as as a means of threatening and more for emergencies like they’re ment for smh