KENOSHA, Wis. — Brian Sheffler (D), a Kenosha County courthouse employee currently running for Clerk of Circuit Courts, has been the subject of repeated sexual harassment and inappropriate-conduct allegations from women who worked with him, according to interviews conducted by Kenosha County Eye. Employment records obtained by KCE show that while Sheffler worked as Clerk of Municipal Court for the Village of Pleasant Prairie, he was given written sexual-harassment-related workplace guidance in 2017. Years later, after becoming a Kenosha County courthouse employee, Sheffler was required to complete county non-harassment training that specifically included sexual harassment and take a post-test in January 2020.

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At least six women who have worked inside the Kenosha County Courthouse have described Sheffler’s behavior to KCE or to a courthouse source interviewed by KCE as creepy, inappropriate or sexually uncomfortable. Allegations include Sheffler staring at women’s breasts, positioning himself partially on women’s desks while speaking with them and engaging in other behavior that made female employees uncomfortable.

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The women have asked KCE not to identify them publicly. One former courthouse employee told KCE that Sheffler’s reputation among female courthouse employees is widespread. Asked whether his alleged inappropriate behavior was common knowledge, the former employee responded, “100%. Yes. 100%.”

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One woman allegedly became so frustrated with Sheffler’s behavior that she got up from her workstation and began walking toward Human Resources to complain. A source said Clerk of Circuit Court Rebecca Matoska-Mentink encountered the woman and asked where she was going. When the employee said she was going to HR, after speaking to her supervisor, Matoska-Mentink reportedly offered to accompany her. The two then went to Human Resources, according to the source. KCE knows the employee’s identity but is withholding it.

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County Says Complaint And Investigation Records Don’t Exist
KCE submitted a public records request seeking Sheffler’s disciplinary records and records involving sexual-harassment training, complaints, investigations, findings, witness statements and determinations.

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Kenosha County Human Resources Director Clara-Lin Tappa said her office searched Sheffler’s personnel file and located only one responsive document: a Kenosha County “Non-Harassment Policy Training Post-Test,” which she specifically acknowledged included sexual harassment.

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Regarding records of discipline, complaints or investigations involving Sheffler, Tappa said HR found none. She again reviewed Sheffler’s file after KCE followed up and said there were no additional responsive records.

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That response is difficult to reconcile with accounts provided to KCE, including the allegation that a female employee personally went to HR with Matoska-Mentink.

Sheffler Required To Complete Training In 2020
The document released by Kenosha County is titled “In This Together: Our Non-Harassment Policy Training Post-Test.” Sheffler’s name is handwritten across the top and the document is dated Jan. 20, 2020.

The county redacted all 10 questions and Sheffler’s answers, but Tappa acknowledged the training included sexual harassment.

Courthouse sources tell KCE that concerns about Sheffler’s conduct had reached Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Jason Rossell, who was serving as chief judge at the time. Sources allege Matoska-Mentink had not adequately addressed concerns about Sheffler and that Rossell’s involvement resulted in Sheffler being required to undergo the training.

KCE asked Rossell about the incident. Rossell said he “doesn’t recall” it.

“There’s no way Rossell doesn’t remember that,” a former courthouse insider familiar with the circumstances told KCE. KCE believes that Rossell lied. Brian is his preferred candidate.

The training document establishes that Sheffler completed the non-harassment post-test on Jan. 20, 2020, but it does not identify what prompted the training or state that Rossell ordered it.

Earlier Sexual-Harassment Guidance In Pleasant Prairie
Before working for Kenosha County, Sheffler served as Clerk of Municipal Court for the Village of Pleasant Prairie.

On Nov. 15, 2017, Pleasant Prairie Municipal Judge Richard Alan Ginkowski sent Sheffler a memorandum specifically addressing sexual harassment and workplace conduct.

Ginkowski wrote that someone would have to be “living under a rock” not to be aware of the issue of sexual harassment and said such conduct “should not be tolerated or ignored.” He specifically directed Sheffler and the other employee to Pleasant Prairie’s anti-sexual-harassment policy.

The memorandum also addressed appropriate workplace behavior, including comments, remarks, gestures, intimidation and conduct that could be inappropriate depending upon the circumstances.

Pleasant Prairie told KCE it located no responsive disciplinary records, complaints, investigations or sexual-harassment allegations involving Sheffler. The 2017 memo itself does not accuse Sheffler of sexual harassment or explain why it was issued.

The records therefore document two separate episodes at two government employers: sexual-harassment-related workplace guidance while Sheffler was Pleasant Prairie Municipal Court Clerk in 2017, followed by Kenosha County non-harassment training inclusive of sexual harassment and a post-test in 2020.

Women Describe Uncomfortable Encounters
One woman told a source interviewed by KCE that Sheffler made her extremely uncomfortable by partially sitting on her desk while talking to her and appearing to stare at her breasts. The source said the woman shifted her body because of the way Sheffler was allegedly looking at her and stopped engaging with him until he eventually walked away.

Other women have characterized Sheffler’s behavior as creepy or inappropriate. A former courthouse employee told KCE that at least a half-dozen women had discussed or experienced concerning behavior involving Sheffler.

Despite those accounts, Kenosha County HR maintains that it can locate no responsive records documenting complaints or investigations involving Sheffler.

Sheffler Running For Clerk Of Courts
Sheffler is seeking to succeed retiring Clerk of Circuit Court Rebecca Matoska-Mentink in the Nov. 3 general election. Kenosha County election records list Sheffler and Zach Rodriguez as candidates for the office.

Sheffler faces Zach Rodriguez (R), a longtime former Kenosha County Board supervisor and corporate executive.

KCE has been told by courthouse sources that County Executive Samantha Kerkman (R) and Tappa favor Sheffler’s candidacy. Those assertions are based on sources’ accounts; the records reviewed by KCE do not independently establish either official’s electoral preference.

Sheffler is also currently the subject of a separate internal Kenosha County investigation after he was photographed apparently sleeping at his courthouse desk. Courthouse insiders allege sleeping at work has been an ongoing issue involving Sheffler.

Sheffler has reportedly told others that he was on his lunch break when the photograph was taken. Courthouse insiders dispute that account and say Matoska-Mentink strictly requires employees who are on lunch to prominently display a sign indicating they are on break. Sources say Sheffler had no such sign displayed.

KCE previously reported that Human Resources initially questioned whether the sleeping photograph was AI-generated before determining it was genuine. The county’s investigation then expanded to determining who took and distributed the photograph.

The sleeping investigation remains ongoing. KCE reached out to Brian when we requested her personnel file and he didn’t respond.