(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Curtiss W. Tolefree Jr., 48, of Kenosha
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Just one day after a court commissioner slashed his bail by 75%, a Kenosha pastor and former Kenosha Unified School District principal accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman walked out of custody Wednesday afternoon — sparking outrage from the victim’s family.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Curtiss W. Tolefree Jr., 48, of Kenosha, was released from the Kenosha County Jail at approximately 12:36 p.m. Wednesday after posting the $50,000 cash bail set by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. The amount had been reduced from a $200,000 arrest warrant signed days earlier by Judge David O. Hughes.
The decision to dramatically lower bail — and the speed at which Tolefree was able to secure his release — has drawn sharp criticism from the victim’s father, Marcus, who is also her caretaker and spoke with Kenosha County Eye following the hearing.
Marcus told KCE he was very disappointed in the outcome and warned that his daughter now functions at a child state at 29 years old and continues to suffer severe trauma.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
In his statement to KCE, Marcus referred to Tolefree as a “serial rapist” and accused both him and his wife of exploiting his daughter’s mental illness and trust.
Marcus told KCE his daughter has been left at a child-like level of functioning and requires constant supervision due to ongoing suicidal thoughts and fear tied to the alleged abuse.
Marcus also told KCE that Tolefree’s wife — who served as the victim’s therapist — was aware of the abuse and failed to act, even allegedly discouraging the victim from speaking out and telling her to stop taking prescribed medication because “God will heal you.”
Marcus said he was blindsided by the release and is now deeply concerned about safety and accountability.
“I’m outraged and I want the public outcry,” Marcus told KCE. “This man needs to be locked away for a very long time for what he did to my daughter.”
He also directly criticized Michel’s decision to reduce the bail so significantly.
“He pretty much sent the message that maybe he knows this person or he’s sympathetic to sex offenders,” Marcus told KCE. “That it’s okay to offend and reoffend and that justice isn’t going to work.”
Marcus told KCE the $50,000 bail made it realistically possible for Tolefree to walk free — something that quickly became reality. Two women posted the bail, securing his release less than 24 hours after the hearing.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Marcus is now urging the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office to seek a de novo review of the commissioner’s bail decision, which would allow a judge to reconsider the reduced amount.
“I want letters sent to Judge Rossell,” Marcus told KCE. “I want any victims, if they are out there, to please come forward.”
The underlying criminal case remains unchanged. Prosecutors allege Tolefree repeatedly sexually assaulted a vulnerable 29-year-old woman inside his church between December 2025 and February 2026.
Investigators say the woman, who functions cognitively at the level of a young child, was assaulted multiple times in his office and other areas of the church, despite telling him no.
Authorities also allege Tolefree used his position as a pastor to isolate and control the victim, while his wife — who was simultaneously acting as the victim’s therapist — played a role that is now under scrutiny.
The allegations came to light after the victim attempted suicide in February, later disclosing the alleged assaults to her family.
Beyond the current case, Tolefree previously worked within Kenosha Unified School District as a dean at Bradford High School and later as principal of Washington Middle School. During his time at Bradford, he was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a student in a separate case that was ultimately dismissed after the alleged victim declined to participate.
If convicted on the current charges, Tolefree faces up to 80 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
He remains free on $50,000 cash bail as the case moves forward.
53 Responses
So who is the judge here. William Michel or David Hughes? Both have to go if Hughes allows Michel to change his bond.
Hughes doesn’t really have any control over whether Michel lowers the bail. This is all on Michel.
Why is a guy WHO IS NOT A JUDGE allowed to change a Judge’s decision ?
Then cite the circumstances under which the appeal for a lower bond was granted ?
was originally Judge Rossell. looks like now its Hughes, David O. Check CCAPS, they list the judge there.
Sick
That’s Kenosha’s judicial system at it’s finest.
🤮
The American legal system in general.
We need to start causing a stir. Michael William needs to be put on notice by the community that his inappropriate bond amounts are not tolerated.
It’s my understanding that Court Commissioners are picked and hired by the Judges to do the Judges job due to volume of the work that comes into the system.
Put on notice ?
It’s the judges that need to explain why they like this guy in this spot. Let the judges explain why they won’t fire this guy !
They picked him because he is a yes-man with zero personality. Why didn’t he allow KM to take pictures from one day to the next? Because he lacks the guts.
Birds of feather flock together !! Maybe bargain Billy is a sexual predator too ? Maybe the Feds need to look into him ?
Trump prohibits the feds from investigating sexual predators.
lol yeah, okay TDS. Calm your tits
T: Trump
D: Denial
S: Syndrome
You are a special kind of stupid aren’t you?!
Not at all. The Feds ignored so many reports related to Epstein and his many pedophile buddies, including Trump, it is tragic.
And you’re doing this from a county IP? They issued you that device for work, not for venting your frustrations.
TDS all right
You should know that your thuggish attempt to intimidate is completely ineffective.
Fuck President Trump!
Troll on county employee, troll on 🤣
Fuck you
Are you serious?! It’s ridiculous comments like these that are thrown out on sm to make people question the legitimacy of anything!
It’s so cowardly to throw out stupidity like this when you don’t put your name to something. Do better!
My thoughts exactly
Kenosha used to be known for its criminal punishment & strictness on those breaking the law. Judges like Schroeder and Bastinelli kept a tight ship! Kenosha is falling apart! Please do better. Especially when it comes to protecting our children and punishing those who hurt them.
If we can’t lock up people like this and KEEP THEM LOCKED UP, what is a Justice System system for? How many more will he manipulate, soil, and shame ? Think of the pain and shame the feel for what wasn’t their fault. God, help us set this right. Help us stop this man and everyone like him.
Thank you Kenosha County Eye for keeping focus on this.
How does a person pay $200,000 in fines if they go to prison for 80 years? This entire situation and the “sentencing” is absolutely ridiculous and sickening.
Doesn’t really matter because this always turns into a small fine and dismissed charges.It is ridiculous.
What sort of Skeletons does Bargain Bail Billy have in his own closet that makes him so sympathetic to demented sexual monsters?
Inquiring minds want to know
He does whatever he’s told. Simple as that. Someday he’ll grow some balls
He’s an idiot who would constantly scream and yell at his wife and young children when I lived next door.
This is outrageous!!!! Michels needs to go immediately
It’s obvious he’s got connections and we Kenosha.. maybe they’ll name a school after him… is he involved with my own Mahone Fund .. that’s the connection
Isn’t the purpose of bail to ensure someone shows up for trial? It is not the sentence for a guilty verdict or plea.
I’m not defending any of the behavior by Tolefree- not previous or this. But he did turn himself in for the arrest warrant and is probably planning to try to beat the charges (again). $50000 cash is a big deposit for showing up for court.
Exactly
Tolefree is manipulative, abusive, and scary. He misappropriated school money to fund “vacations” to hook up with staff members. He ruined the reputation of staff who knew about what he was doing. He needs to be held accountable. There’s so much more that he’s guilty of that isn’t public.
I agree and again why are his skeletons staying hidden in a closet by KUSD? This man needs to be put away for good. How many more people will be scared into not testifying against this man…please people come forward!!! I know there are those who have info…time to put an end to this predator.!
He is sick!!! He did some dirty stuff while at Bradford HS. WHO and HOW did he have ANYTHING to do with a church??? He should burn at the stake!!! He has ruined so many lives!!! Lock him up!!! Better yet street justice is warranted here!!! I’ll gladly take a number and wait my turn.
Im sure if the prosecutors pull his file with KUSD they would have a plethora of information to use in this case…kinda curious if KUSD is coming forth with this info…..This man used his position in authority to groom and victimize. This is his MO…there is a pattern and im willing to bet KUSD can show that. Here’s hoping this man rots the rest of his life in prison!
Tar and feather Michel.
This POS knows how to work the system. I’m sure he has connections. And I’m sure every chance he gets he plays the race card to either get what he wants or get out of what he did. Lets hope next time he “F’s” with the wrong young girl or married woman and a Father or husband puts a bullet in his head. Because there will be a next time. He will get sloppy and over confident and he will pay one way or another. Karma is a cold bitch and his day will come.
There are husbands who have no idea their wife has had sex with this dude out there right now probably reading this article and comment.
If your wife traveled with him for KUSD or teacher related events… probably one of them. He is a malignant narcissist and would set himself up in these scenarios with people he knew were easy to take advantage of.
Grab the torches and pitchforks! Pedos and pedo protecting judges! HANG EM IN THE STREETS
Maybe good old Bill Michael is an active member of the defendant’s church. I mean, a loser like that must need spiritual comfort to keep doing what he does best: making our county less safe every day.
The path of him getting away with this again has started. Now the lawyer games and delay, delay, delay and Kenosha’s DA going along with it.
Sounds like someone needs to tail this guy & get some surveillance of his activities’
Sounds like someone needs to tail this guy & get some surveillance of his activities’
Sounds like someone needs to tail this guy & get some surveillance of his activities’
The 2 people putting thumbs down on all these posts are probably that serial raping shine and his ugly horse faced wife. Their church should be burned to the ground with them inside of it. Disgusting humans.
Not to mention his repeated assaults as a principal. Why was he free and around families in the first place?
This entire thing is disgusting! What kind of woman stays with a man who not only has sex with a teacher on the property of Washington Middle School but sexually assaults a student at Bradford High School then a special needs young lady at a church wtf! Him and his wife need to go down for this last one! The therapist and the predator f’n sick!
Not it was a student not a teacher, and it happened several days a week in his office. We know the parent of Zion, IL care about their children they ran him out of town when they found out.
I want to say it’s because she is black and the fake Rev is black. We know unless it was someone they cared about nothing would happen. This dude has rapped about 5-10 children under 16.