KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha County jury acquitted Kiana D. Booker, 33, of Kenosha, of felony child abuse last month, ending a prosecution that began in February 2024 and lasted nearly two and a half years. The case also marked what multiple sources told Kenosha County Eye was Assistant District Attorney Morgan Millar’s first jury trial. The jury found Booker not guilty on July 21, and a judgment of acquittal was entered the following day.

Booker had been charged with intentionally causing bodily harm to a child, a Class H felony carrying a maximum possible penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The criminal complaint accused Booker of repeatedly striking her daughter with a belt after an argument over the girl wearing mascara and lying about it.

The complaint alleged the girl told investigators Booker struck her 10 to 12 times with a belt and that police observed bruising on her arms. School employees also reported seeing marks, and medical personnel described some of the bruising as consistent with being struck by a belt.

Booker disputed the State’s case and told KCE that the evidence presented at trial did not match the picture prosecutors had painted when she was charged.

She said the case devastated her financially and professionally long before a jury ever determined whether she was guilty.

“They dragged me through this for two and a half years,” Booker told KCE. “I lost everything. I lost my house behind this. I wasn’t able to get a job because of that felony child abuse charge on my background.”

Booker said her children also spent approximately eight months in foster care while the case was pending.

“My kids were in foster care for eight months away from my home,” Booker said.

Some skeptics of the prosecution have questioned whether a case with those evidentiary issues should have proceeded to a jury trial in the first place.

Booker’s defense attorney, Michael Barth, nevertheless had positive things to say about Millar’s conduct during her first trial. Barth told KCE that Millar was “professional and easy to work with.”

Court records show the State presented witnesses over two days, including school personnel, medical witnesses and retired Kenosha Police Detective Eric Traxler. Booker ultimately took the witness stand in her own defense. After the State presented rebuttal testimony, both sides delivered closing arguments and the case was handed to the jury.

Booker was far more critical of the decision to prosecute the case than Barth was of Millar personally.

“Anybody with the evidence they had wouldn’t have taken that case to trial,” Booker told KCE.

Booker also criticized the State’s presentation of the photographic evidence, saying the alleged injuries were extremely difficult to see.

“They brought these pictures to trial. You couldn’t even see anything,” Booker said. “It wasn’t a bruise.” She said the courtroom lights were turned off and the windows covered as the parties attempted to view what she described as a small red spot in the photographs.

Booker said she believed the matter amounted to parental discipline that was transformed into a felony prosecution. She acknowledged disciplining her children but disputed the characterization of what occurred that formed the basis of the criminal charge.

After closing arguments, the jury began deliberating at 3:38 p.m. on July 21. Court records show a verdict was reached at 4:53 p.m. The jury returned to the courtroom one minute later and found Booker not guilty. The jurors were individually polled before being excused.

Booker recalled the decision coming quickly.

“All 12 jurors found me not guilty,” she said.

With the criminal case now behind her, Booker said her attention is on rebuilding what she lost during the years the felony charge was pending.

Booker told KCE she has an associate degree in criminal justice, is a registered medical assistant and has professional experience supporting people with disabilities. She is also studying business analytics at Southern New Hampshire University and said she hopes to complete that degree around the end of this year or early next year.

For Booker, finding meaningful employment is now an important part of restarting her life.

“I’m still trying to pull my life back together,” Booker said. “I’m taking it day by day right now.”

Booker said she hopes her acquittal will allow potential employers to see her for her education, experience and qualifications rather than the felony accusation that followed her for more than two years.

Employers interested in speaking with Booker about legitimate career opportunities may contact Kenosha County Eye, which will forward the information to her.