SOMERS, Wis. — A local Black Lives Matter activist who has faced criminal convictions, civil judgments, municipal citations, tax warrants, restraining-order litigation and a unanimous defamation verdict is now facing two new criminal misdemeanor charges after authorities say he was caught driving despite having a revoked license and no court-ordered ignition interlock device installed in the vehicle.

Raymond Karim Roberts, 44, of Somers, was charged May 29 in Kenosha County Circuit Court, more than a month after a traffic stop in Somers. Roberts is scheduled to make his initial appearance June 10 before a court commissioner.

According to the criminal complaint, a Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy stopped Roberts on April 29 after observing him driving a gray Hyundai Santa Fe on Sheridan Road with expired registration. A records check showed the vehicle’s registration had expired in November 2025.

During the traffic stop, authorities learned Roberts’ driver’s license remained revoked and that he was required to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle he operated. Roberts allegedly acknowledged that no ignition interlock device was installed, explaining that the SUV belonged to his wife.

Court records cited in the complaint indicate Roberts’ operating privileges were revoked indefinitely on Aug. 2, 2022, due to non-compliance and had not been reinstated as of the traffic stop. If accurate, Roberts may have been driving without a valid license for nearly four years.

He is charged with operating a motor vehicle while revoked and failure to install an ignition interlock device. The operating-after-revocation charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

OWI Case Involved Loaded Handgun

The complaint notes that Roberts previously was convicted in Milwaukee County of second-offense operating while intoxicated. That case involved more than a routine drunk-driving arrest.

According to Milwaukee County court records, Roberts was stopped by deputies after they observed erratic driving on Interstate 94. Investigators reported signs of impairment, and Roberts later produced a blood-alcohol concentration of approximately .165, more than twice the legal limit.

Deputies also discovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun in the vehicle with a round chambered. Prosecutors charged Roberts with endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon while under the influence, but that charge was ultimately dismissed after he participated in Veterans Treatment Court.

Roberts was convicted of second-offense OWI and became subject to ignition interlock and license revocation requirements. The revocation referenced in the new Kenosha County complaint stems from that case and related compliance requirements.

Child Abuse Conviction

The latest charges are not Roberts’ first criminal case involving children.

In 2017, Kenosha County prosecutors charged Roberts with felony child abuse after allegations that he repeatedly struck his children with a belt that had shotgun-shell ends attached to it. According to the criminal complaint, investigators documented extensive bruising on the children, who reported being struck multiple times during disciplinary incidents.

One child allegedly suffered bruises covering large portions of his body, while investigators observed numerous injuries consistent with being struck by a belt. The allegations surfaced after the children’s mother contacted authorities upon discovering the injuries after the children returned from spending time with Roberts.

Roberts ultimately was convicted in that case.

Custody of Children Removed

Roberts later became the subject of a highly publicized custody dispute that generated significant local attention.

Court records show a Kenosha judge stripped Roberts of custody of his two eldest children and limited him to supervised visitation. The ruling followed testimony and evidence presented during family court proceedings.

The custody case received widespread attention because Roberts had become a visible local activist through Black Lives Matter demonstrations and political advocacy.

Jury Unanimously Rejected Bogus Claims

Roberts has also been the subject of significant civil litigation.

In July 2023, a Kenosha County jury unanimously found that Roberts made false and defamatory statements about Kenosha County Eye publisher Kevin Mathewson.

Jurors concluded Roberts falsely accused Mathewson of training his children to become suicide bombers, threatening to murder military veterans, and participating in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The jury unanimously rejected Roberts’ claims and found in favor of Mathewson after hearing evidence presented during the civil trial.

Represented by Embattled Attorney

Roberts is represented by Kenosha attorney Theodore “Ted” Kmiec III. Kmiec, a former Salem Lakes trustee and former supplemental court commissioner, has faced legal and professional controversy of his own in recent years. Records previously reported by Kenosha County Eye showed that a multi-agency law enforcement search of Kmiec’s residence resulted in the discovery of marijuana and other suspected controlled substances. Despite the findings, no criminal charges were filed. Kmiec was later removed from his position as a supplemental court commissioner but remains licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.

Municipal Record and Other Litigation

Public records also reflect a lengthy municipal court history involving traffic and ordinance violations.

The deputy who stopped Roberts in April also cited him for operating a vehicle with expired registration. Court records show Roberts has accumulated various traffic-related citations over the years, including violations connected to his driving record.

In addition to criminal and municipal matters, Roberts has appeared in numerous civil court proceedings. Public records show tax warrants, collection actions, restraining-order litigation and other legal disputes spanning several years.

The new criminal charges stem from what prosecutors describe as a routine traffic stop, but the allegations raise questions about whether Roberts has been driving for years despite losing his license following his OWI conviction and ignition interlock requirements.

The combined maximum penalty for the two misdemeanor charges is 18 months in jail and $3,100 in fines.

He is scheduled to appear before a court commissioner on June 10.