KENOSHA, Wis. — Former Wilmot Union High School student Jason A. Kotarba, 17, of Twin Lakes, was sentenced Friday to the maximum prison time requested by prosecutors: 4½ years of initial confinement, followed by six years of extended supervision, after Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson imposed the prosecution’s recommendation in full and ordered all three sentences to run consecutively. The substantial prison sentence comes after a controversial beginning to the case, including Judge Chad Kerkman (D) releasing Kotarba from juvenile detention and initially considering not waiving him into adult court, according to information discussed at Friday’s hearing, and Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II later releasing Kotarba on no-cash bail. Judge Jodi Meier subsequently imposed a $25,000 cash bond and barred Kotarba from Wilmot Union High School.

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Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis appeared for the State and asked Iverson to impose 18 months of initial confinement on each of Kotarba’s three counts, with all three sentences running consecutively. Prosecutors also requested two years of extended supervision on each count, also consecutive. The defense asked Iverson for probation.

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Iverson imposed exactly what prosecutors requested. On each of the three counts, she sentenced Kotarba to 18 months of initial confinement followed by two years of extended supervision. With all three sentences consecutive, Kotarba received 4½ years behind bars followed by six years of extended supervision, for a total sentence of 10½ years. Kotarba received 319 days of credit against the first count for time already served. Iverson also ruled Kotarba is not eligible for the Challenge Incarceration Program or Substance Abuse Program.

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Solis: “Public-Safety Concerns Were Too Serious To Ignore”
Following Friday’s sentencing, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis told Kenosha County Eye that his office’s actions in the Kotarba case were driven by concerns for Wilmot students and the surrounding community.

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“My responsibility was to protect the students of Wilmot High School and the community,” Solis said. “When the defendant was released over my office’s objection, I filed a motion seeking to have him returned to custody because the public-safety concerns were too serious to ignore. Students, parents, teachers, and staff deserve to feel safe in our schools.”

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Solis also credited members of the community who spoke out after Kotarba was released on no-cash bail and permitted to return to Wilmot.

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“The community made its concerns heard, and I work for the people of Kenosha County,” Solis said. “I take that responsibility seriously. When the safety of our students and our community is at stake, my office will listen, act, and advocate in court for the protection of the public.”

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Judge Kerkman Initially Considered Keeping Kotarba In Juvenile Court
An important detail about the case’s early history emerged during Friday’s sentencing hearing. Kotarba’s defense told the court that Judge Chad Kerkman (D) had initially considered not waiving Kotarba into adult court. Kerkman also released Kotarba from juvenile detention while the case was still proceeding in juvenile court. Kerkman ultimately waived Kotarba into adult court.

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Kotarba’s path through the adult court system subsequently became the center of considerable public controversy. After the case reached adult court, Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II released Kotarba on no-cash bail despite the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office requesting $10,000 cash bail.

The controversy intensified the following day when Wilmot Union High School allowed Kotarba to return to classes. Parents expressed outrage over having a student facing child pornography charges back inside the school, and the controversy quickly spilled into the wider community.

The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department investigated a threat involving the school one day after Kotarba’s return. Solis then moved to have the controversial no-cash bail reconsidered. Parents organized a public call to action demanding answers from Wilmot leadership, and days later, a contentious school board meeting drew parents who demanded action and criticized the administration’s handling of the situation.

Judge Meier Reversed No-Cash Bail Decision
On November 3, 2025, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Jodi Meier reversed the earlier course of the case, revoked Kotarba’s no-cash bail and imposed a $25,000 cash bond. Meier also prohibited Kotarba from returning to Wilmot Union High School. Kotarba was taken into custody and remained there as the criminal case proceeded.

The following day, Kotarba waived his preliminary hearing and was bound over for trial in adult court.

The sequence of events drew significant attention throughout Kenosha County. Kotarba’s case was initially considered for juvenile court before Kerkman ultimately waived him into adult court. Michel then released him without requiring cash bail, Wilmot permitted him to return to classes, parents revolted, prosecutors sought another look at the bail decision, and Meier ultimately ordered him held on $25,000 cash bail and barred him from the school.

Nearly a year later, Kotarba walked into Friday’s sentencing hearing already having spent 319 days behind bars.

He left with every month of prison time prosecutors asked Judge Heather Iverson to impose.

Kotarba will serve a total of 4½ years of initial confinement on the three consecutive counts, less applicable sentence credit, before beginning six years of extended supervision. His combined sentence totals 10½ years.

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