Saturday, September 13, 2025
Automatic license plate reader technology use OK'd for Racine County Sheriff's Office
Holly Gilvary
YORKVILLE — The Racine County Sheriff’s Office will soon incorporate Automatic License Plate Reader technology to assist with investigations.
The Racine County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized a two-year contract with software company Flock Safety to pilot the technology. RCSO will use a $75,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Intervention Program to pay for the contract.
The technology works by capturing vehicle images and license plates using a solar-powered camera, and stamps the date, time and location, turning the images into searchable data, according to RCSO Capt. James Evans.
“The technology itself is truly just a solar-powered camera,” he told board members. “It’s the software that we’re paying for that powers the camera which makes it so unique.”
The contract includes 10 cameras, which Evans said RCSO will place along high-traffic routes, including Interstate 94.
The board voted 15-1 to approve the contract, with Supervisor Jody Spencer voting against it.
Spencer said she appreciates the RCSO’s intention for the technology but was worried what could happen if the data compiled from the Automatic License Plate Readers, colloquially referred to as “ALPRs,” gets into the wrong hands.
“What limits do we think we will actually have to control where the data goes?” Spencer said. “We need to be vigilant and ask questions about how our local data is used now and well into the future.”
Evans said RCSO will own all data collected and only RCSO can authorize sharing.
Data collected from ALPRs can only be stored for 30 days, unless it is being used in an investigation, and accessing APLR data requires a reason, such as a stolen vehicle, missing person or crime in progress, Evans said.
The board also approved an ordinance that will temporarily adjust the speed limit on parts of County Trunk Highway C for the duration of three development projects, lasting through Dec. 31, 2026.
The speed limit will be lowered to 50 mph for all vehicles from the intersection with State Trunk Highway 20 easterly to a point 3,650 feet west of the intersection with County Trunk Highway V, and from this point, 35 mph to a point 850 feet east of the intersection with County Trunk Highway V.
In other business, the board:
- Established parameters for the sale of general obligation promissory notes in the not-to-exceed amount of $25,510,000 related to the remaining portion of Racine County’s 911 dispatch center capital project and the first phase of the public safety building capital project.
- Established parameters for the sale of general obligation promissory notes in the not-to-exceed amount of $7,500,000 for the second phase of the Reefpoint Marina capital project.
- Delegated the authority to enter into settlement agreements with opioid defendants to the designated Racine County officer(s).
Friday, September 12, 2025
21-year-old charged with 37 counts of possessing child pornography
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — A West Allis man has been charged with possession of child pornography following an investigation by the Caledonia Police Department.
Marvon Lynch, 21, is facing 37 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of resisting or obstructing an officer.
If convicted, Lynch could be sentenced to 25 years in prison, fined of up to $100,000 for each count of possession of child pornography, or both. Additionally, the court may impose a surcharge of $500 for each image or copy of an image, according to the criminal complaint.
Lynch faces an additional nine months in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, if convicted of obstructing an officer.
On Wednesday, his cash bond was set at $150,000, according to court records.
According to a criminal complaint, about 12:25 a.m. Aug. 13, a CPD officer reportedly saw a vehicle parked in the Cliffside Park parking lot, 7320 Michna Road, which had closed at 11 p.m.
The officer reported seeing Lynch in the backseat with a passenger, who later was confirmed to be 12 years old, the complaint said. The passenger reportedly told police that she believed Lynch was 16.
CPD searched Lynch's phone after learning that the 12-year-old might have sent "provocative photos" to him, according to the criminal complaint.
Police reportedly found about 60 images of child pornography on Lynch's phone.
Lynch is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 10 in Racine County Circuit Court.
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
53-year-old sentenced on child porn charges
EACINE — A Racine man was sentenced Monday to four years of prison for child phonography possession.
Michael Oswald, 53, was charged with 17 counts of possession of child pornography, each a class D felony.
He entered a guilty plea July 18. Each count received a sentence of four years of initial incarceration followed by four years of extended supervision, each to be served concurrently.
The remaining counts were dismissed but read into the court record.
According to previous Journal Times reporting, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office searched Oswald’s Gilson Street residence March 27 after receiving a cyber tip from the Division of Criminal Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
During the search, investigators reportedly found a cell phone containing child pornography images or videos.
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