(Family Member)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 12-member Kenosha County jury unanimously found Peter E. Johnson III, 45, of Kenosha, not guilty Thursday of all four felony charges against him following a two-day jury trial before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Heather Iverson. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus prosecuted the case, with Assistant District Attorney Ben Woolley also appearing for the state during the trial, while Johnson was represented by defense attorney Zebulon Patek. Johnson, who had worked as a Kenosha Unified School District bus driver through First Student, had been accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting two children over a period of several years.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Johnson was charged in November 2025 with two counts of repeated sexual assault of the same child and two counts of child enticement involving sexual contact. The two repeated-sexual-assault charges were Class C felonies, while the child-enticement charges were Class D felonies. The charges also carried serious-sex-offender lifetime-supervision modifiers.
The allegations involved two girls who told Kenosha Police that Johnson had sexually abused them while they were minors. Kenosha County Eye reported on Johnson’s arrest and prosecution but declined to publish many of the graphic allegations contained in the criminal complaint because of their disturbing nature. Johnson maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty after the case was bound over for trial.
Two-Day Jury Trial
Jury selection began Tuesday, with testimony beginning Wednesday morning. The state presented testimony from the two complainants, Kenosha Police Detective Sergio Martini and expert witness Taume Kohl. After the state rested Wednesday afternoon, Patek asked Iverson to dismiss all four charges. Iverson heard arguments and denied the defense motion, allowing the case to proceed to the jury.
The defense then presented its witnesses and rested Wednesday afternoon. Jurors heard closing arguments from the prosecution and defense before beginning deliberations at about 4:18 p.m. They deliberated until shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday and were sent home for the evening without reaching a verdict.
Jurors returned Thursday morning and resumed deliberations. Court records indicate the jury submitted two questions that were addressed on the record before reaching its unanimous verdicts at 11:41 a.m. Johnson was found not guilty on Count 1, not guilty on Count 2, not guilty on Count 3 and not guilty on Count 4. The jury was excused at 11:46 a.m., and Iverson entered judgments on the verdicts.
Johnson Released After Nearly 10 Months In Custody
Johnson had been in custody throughout the case. When he was initially charged on Nov. 18, 2025, Court Commissioner William Michel II set his bail at $100,000 cash and ordered him to have no contact with the two complainants or any minors. Johnson’s bail was later reduced to $99,000 in March 2026 and then to $50,000 in July, with the no-contact conditions remaining in place.
That changed immediately following Thursday’s verdicts. With Johnson acquitted of every charge, Iverson released him from all conditions of bond. The court record reflects that Johnson was still in custody when he appeared for the second day of trial Thursday morning and was released following the jury’s verdict.
Kenosha County Eye reached out to Johnson following the verdict. A family member said Johnson was happy with the outcome but was too overwhelmed to speak with KCE at the time. After spending nearly 10 months in custody, Johnson went home following court Thursday for the first time since his arrest in November and spent time with family and friends.
The acquittals bring to an end a criminal prosecution that had been pending for nearly 10 months. Johnson leaves the case with no convictions on any of the four charges brought against him.
Editor’s Note: Kenosha County Eye makes it a priority to update readers when we become aware of significant developments in criminal cases we have previously reported on, particularly dismissals, acquittals, reduced charges and other outcomes that materially change the status of a case. However, KCE cannot always know when a case has changed or when a significant court development has occurred. Defendants, their attorneys and family members should never hesitate to contact Kenosha County Eye when there has been an important development in a case we have covered. We welcome that information and will review it promptly so our reporting reflects the most current and complete record available.
