Saturday, September 19, 2026
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Saturday, August 22, 2026
Cops Gone Wild: Former RCSO deputy pleads guilty to attempting misconduct in public office, battery
Milana Doné
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Jonathan Bechman, left, talks with his attorney, Daniel Adams, during a plea/sentencing hearing Friday. RACINE — A former Racine County Sheriff's Office deputy has been found guilty in connection to allegations of domestic abuse and using law enforcement resources to track his wife. Jonathan Bechman, 48, was charged in May with one count of attempting misconduct in public office (act in excess of lawful authority) and two counts of misdemeanor battery with a domestic abuse modifier. Bechman pleaded guilty Friday to all three charges and was sentenced to six months in jail with work release and three years of probation. He also was sentenced to 27 months in jail imposed and stayed, meaning Bechman will not serve that time unless he violates the terms of his probation. According to a criminal complaint, Bechman's wife told Mount Pleasant investigators about two specific incidents of domestic violence and alleged there had been ongoing violence throughout their marriage. A forensic download of Bechman's phone reportedly revealed statements in the Notes app admitting violence toward his wife. After reporting to the police, Bechman's wife moved out of state. An RCSO employee reported that there were documents on Bechman's desk that indicated he had been using police resources to locate her. The documents were not in connection to a criminal investigation or official duties and were against policy, the complaint said. Bechman's wife told the court Friday that it was difficult to report her experience because of Bechman's position and that he pushed the boundaries of a restraining order to control her without technically committing a violation. "He knows exactly how far he can go without being arrested," she said. She asked the court to sentence Bechman to jail time. "I lived in fear for decades and believe there must finally be consequences for what happened to me," she said. Bechman also made a statement to the court, apologizing for his actions and noting that he is trying to work on himself. "I'm haunted by this every day," he said. He also addressed those in law enforcement in connection to the count of misconduct while in office. "I betrayed your trust and our mission," Bechman said.  Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Milana Doné |
Friday, August 21, 2026
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Friday, June 26, 2026
Clergy Gone Wild: Madison priest stripped of clerical role after child sex crime charges
David Clarey
A Madison Catholic priest was stripped of his clerical duties after allegations of child pornography surfaced against the man in 2025.
The June 24 stripping of Andrew J. Showers’ clerical duties comes after Waupaca County prosecutors charged the 38-year-old man with felonies after they say he he attempted to meet with a 14-year-old girl to have sex with her, but it was actually a police officer. Prosecutors also charged him with possession of child pornography earlier this year.
Showers was also the subject of two other misconduct allegations following his 2025 arrest, one for inappropriate questioning during confession and another allegation of groping a woman.
The Diocese of Madison announced Pope Leo XIV made the decision to remove Showers of his duties after Showers requested the removal himself, according to the Diocese’s June 25 letter. That church process, known as laicization, means he is known longer a member of the church’s clergy.
“I ask for your continued prayers for all those affected and commend everyone involved, including Andrew, to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,” said Donald Hying, Bishop of Madison, in a letter to diocese members. “May we find comfort in the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy, remembering that He remains with us in every trial, suffering, and sorrow.”
The charges came after Clintonville Police Department officers arrested Showers on Aug. 24, 2025 after he attempted to meet with an officer posing as a 14-year-old girl for sex.
Then, in March, prosecutors charged Showers with two additional felonies for possession of child pornography. Authorities said they found two pornographic images of girls on a messaging app on Showers’ phone.
The Diocese of Madison had previously announced Showers’s first arrest Aug. 25, 2025, and restricted him from ministry during the investigation. In that announcement, it erroneously said the church had not received any prior allegations of misconduct conduct against Showers.
However, two days later, the Diocese of Madison said Showers was the subject of a previous complaint in December 2021. The Journal Sentinel previously reported that complaint came from a parent who reported his son was asked about watching pornography and masturbating during confession at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lodi, according to a police record.
The Lodi Police Department investigated the complaint and determined it was not criminal. The father also said he reported it to the church, who said Showers’ actions were within his role as a priest.
More allegations surfaced against Showers in Sept. 2025. A woman said she was groped by the man during a social event, where he introduced himself as a priest and gave her his business card.
Showers had been set to lead a small group trip to Rome and Siena at the time of the allegations, according to since-deleted social media posts.
Showers had the following assignments, according to the diocese:
- Director of diocesan office of worship, 2024 to present.
- Parochial vicar for a grouping known as Pastorate 22 or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, which collectively includes two churches, St. Raphael and Good Shepherd, and one school, St. James, all in Madison, 2023 to present.
- Priest in residence at All Saints in Berlin and Our Lady of the Lake in Green Lake, 2022 to 2023.
- Provided Spanish Mass assistance at St. John the Baptist in Waunakee, 2022.
- Pastor of St. Stephen in Clinton, 2020 to 2022.
- Parochial vicar for St. Paul's Catholic Student Center, which serves UW-Madison students, 2018 to 2020.
- Parochial vicar of St. Cecilia in Wisconsin Dells, summer of 2017.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Cops Gone Wild: Milwaukee to pay $825,000 to end two police cases
David Clarey
The city of Milwaukee will pay $825,000 to resolve two claims brought forward after alleged police misconduct.
The payments will end legal action surrounding the death of a woman who was run over by a Milwaukee police officer in 2025, and in the lawsuit made by a couple who were repeatedly the subject of false claims to police and prompting numerous police responses between 2022 and 2023. Milwaukee Common Council passed the payments June 2.
The family of Haley Linville will receive $250,000 in connection to her Sept. 16, 2025, death.
A Milwaukee police officer was responding to the city's south side for a welfare check when, as Linville lay at the entrance of an alleyway, an officer ran her over. She later died at the hospital.
The other payment, for $575,000, will go to Niki Robinson and Patrick Tomlinson. Police were dispatched 45 times to their home over a two-year span. The city admitted in court documents that police knew the couple was being targeted by fake emergency calls.
The city denied searches related to the calls were illegal.
The payments still require Mayor Cavalier Johnson's signature for final approval. Spokesperson Jeff Fleming said the mayor will decide whether to sign off in coming days.
"He is inclined to support the council action," Fleming said in a text message.
An attorney for Linville's family initially sought over $21 million for her death, but Wisconsin state statute caps civil settlements at $250,000.
Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, who abstained from voting on Linville settlement, said the amount was not enough for the family.
"We need to continue to hold people accountable," she said. "Quite frankly, too many women in particular I'm seeing not getting the standard of care they need from the city of Milwaukee."
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