Racine woman charged in crash that injured 11 was out on bond for fatal hit-and-run

From JSOnline:

Kelli Arseneau

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A 20-year-old Racine woman is accused of causing a car crash that injured 11 people Sept. 3 while out on bond for a fatal hit-and-run of a pedestrian last year.

According to records, Shamya Anderson didn't have a driver's license in either instance. She was ordered not to drive or commit any new crimes under conditions of her $50,000 signature bond signed in February.

Anderson is accused of killing 44-year-old Dwayne Carr, of Racine, in December 2024. In that case, she's charged with three felonies: hit and run involving death, homicide by vehicle under use of controlled substances and knowingly operating a vehicle without a valid license and causing a death.

Anderson now faces an additional 29 charges in connection with the Sept. 3 crash, which happened just before 3:30 p.m. on the 2000 block of 16th Street.

According to a criminal complaint, surveillance video of the crash showed a Nissan Rogue driving westbound on 16th Street "recklessly and at a high rate of speed." The vehicle is then shown spinning and crossing the center line into the eastbound lane, where it sideswiped a Jeep, then continued to spin and hit a city bus.

Eleven people were injured, including Anderson, but no injuries were life-threatening, according to the Racine Police Department. According to the complaint:

• Six people on the bus were treated for injuries, including three minors: two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old.
• The driver of the Jeep was treated for shoulder, rib and hip pain.
• Three 15-year-old passengers in the Nissan were treated for injuries. One of the three had a broken femur, which required surgery.

Anderson made her initial appearance in Racine County Circuit Court for that case Sept. 5. She's being held at the Racine County Jail on $500,000 bond, according to court records.

What are the charges Shamya Anderson faces for the Sept. 3 crash?

Anderson is charged with 25 felonies and four misdemeanors:

• One count of child abuse — recklessly causing great bodily harm (Class E felony)
• One count of second-degree reckless injury (Class F felony)
• Two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety (Class G felonies)
• Five counts of child abuse — recklessly causing bodily harm (Class I felonies)
• One count of knowingly operating without a license and causing great bodily harm (Class I felony)
• 15 counts of felony bail jumping (Class H felonies)
• Four misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and causing bodily harm

What are the details of the Dec. 6 fatal hit-and-run?

A criminal complaint for the December hit-and-run said:

• Racine police were dispatched to the 600 block of North Memorial Drive in Racine just after 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 2024, for a report of a man lying in the road.
• First responders determined the man had no pulse. They attempted life-saving measures and transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
• Anderson contacted police after the crash to report that she had struck a person with her vehicle, and officers met with her on the 1400 block of Geneva Street.
• Anderson told police she had attempted to merge to avoid the man when she saw him, but was unable to. She said she didn't immediately pull over after hitting the man because she was concerned about "human trafficking" and she was set up to be kidnapped. She said she also found a place to pull over and let the passengers out of her car before calling the police.
• Anderson admitted to police that she didn't have and had never had a driver's license.
• A blood test revealed Anderson had a small amount of THC in her blood. In Wisconsin, a person caught driving with any amount of THC can lead to a ticket or criminal charge.

Anderson is scheduled to return to Racine County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 for a preliminary hearing in the Sept. 3 crash case, and a status conference for the hit-and-run case.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/09/05/woman-charged-in-racine-crash-was-out-on-bond-for-fatal-hit-and-run/85988565007/

SUV vs. Bus, driver previously charged

What a POS she is.

Teachers Gone Wild: Former teacher sentenced in sexual assault case

From The Journal Times.com:

Caroline Neal

RACINE — Jamill Sanders, a former teacher at 21st Century Preparatory School in Racine, was sentenced during a hearing Monday after pleading no contest to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor, and one count of felony child abuse meant to intentionally cause harm.

For each misdemeanor charge, Sanders, 37, will serve nine months in the Racine County Jail.

He also will spend three years on probation for the felony charge.

The sentence was imposed and stayed, meaning that if the conditions of probation are violated and Sanders' probation is revoked, he will be required to serve two years in Wisconsin State Prison and two years of extended supervision.

The remaining charges — including second-degree sexual assault of a child and repeated sexual assault of the same child — were dismissed but read into the court’s record.

According to previous Journal Times reporting, Racine Police Department officers were sent to the K4-8 school on March 27, 2024, after a report of a sexual assault.

Sanders had been working at the school as a behavioral interventionist.

Five students, including two 12-year-olds and three 14-year-olds, reportedly made allegations against him.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_f77b64a1-4b78-4408-840f-c017b4bfa7d6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

36-year-old sentenced in child abuse, battery case

From The Journal Times.com:

Caroline Neal 

RACINE — A 36-year-old Racine man was sentenced to three years in Wisconsin State Prison after he was accused of striking a woman, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl at a Douglas Avenue restaurant last May.

Christopher Maldonado also was ordered to serve three years of extended supervision.

Maldonado was charged with two counts of felony child abuse with the intent to cause harm, one count of misdemeanor battery, one count of disorderly conduct and four counts of misdemeanor bail jumping.

He pleaded not guilty in July 2024.

On March 18, he entered a no contest plea, which the court regarded as a guilty plea, for one count of child abuse with the intent to cause harm and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. The remaining charges were dismissed but read into the court’s record.

Maldonado will serve 60 days in the Racine County Jail for the misdemeanor bail jumping charges.

Allegations

According to previous Journal Times reporting, Racine Police Department officers spoke with the woman and teenagers involved in the May 2024 altercation with Maldonado. The woman reportedly told officers that Maldonado’s girlfriend attacked her before Maldonado struck her.

The woman’s 17-year-old son reportedly tried to intervene, and Maldonado allegedly hit him several times.

Previous reporting details that Maldonado also allegedly hit the woman’s 16-year-old niece.

Additional case

In a separate criminal complaint from July 2024, Maldonado faced charges for allegedly hitting his girlfriend on May 28 at a Mount Pleasant gas station.

Online court records show that he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor bail jumping in March. The remaining charges — including 10 additional counts of misdemeanor bail jumping, disorderly conduct, and battery — were dismissed but read into the court’s record.

For this case, he was ordered to serve 30 days in Racine County Jail and one year of probation.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_56f69e79-5f8d-4c9a-a35e-b46fbe33b039.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

I understand that they love child beaters in prison.

Cops Gone Wild: Racine man suing police for 'inhumane' treatment in transport van

Jury arrives at verdict in fatal shooting at Spring and State streets roundabout

From The Journal Times.com:

Journal Times staff

RACINE — A jury has found Alejandro Sierra guilty of first degree reckless homicide in the death of 36-year-old Alexis Marie Fisher.

Fisher was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound in the roundabout at Spring and State streets on April 15, 2023. She later died from the injury.

Sierra originally was charged with first degree intentional homicide.

According to a criminal complaint, Sierra and Fisher got into an argument at a residence on Domanik Drive.

Sierra reportedly threatened to kill Fisher’s father before leaving the residence, and Fisher followed him.

The complaint said Sierra then turned and shot Fisher.

Sierra was on probation at the time of the shooting, having been convicted of operating a firearm while intoxicated, resisting or obstructing an officer and misdemeanor bail jumping.

The jury found Sierra guilty on March 19 of first degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon after a three-day trial, according to online court records.

Sierra was being held on a $500,000 cash bond since April 2023. His bond was revoked pending sentencing.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 9.

Sierra

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_9514a29c-1748-47f5-98ff-d5948f6c0ef0.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Woman in custody after allegedly claiming to have placed bomb at Racine County Jail

From The Journal Times.com:

Journal Times Staff

RACINE — A 29-year-old woman was arrested Friday afternoon in connection to a bomb threat at the Racine County Jail.

A news release issued by Racine County Sheriff's Office states that at about 2:15 p.m. the woman "communicated to a Racine County employee that she had just placed a bomb within a publicly accessible area" of the jail.

The woman also reportedly told members of the public that "she was going to, 'blow up' the building and that there was a bomb inside the package she had left," according to the release.

RCSO contacted the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office bomb squad for assistance.

According to a news release from KCSO, technicians X-rayed the package and concluded that it was not an explosive device and did not pose a hazard.

KCSO's bomb squad is responsible for assisting on any explosive device call throughout Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties, and is one of only six bomb squads in the state.

The woman was taken into custody at 2:50 p.m. and no else is believed to have been involved, according to RCSO.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-in-custody-after-allegedly-claiming-to-have-placed-bomb-at-racine-county-jail/article_22f58598-d5b7-11ef-b88f-ff4608b0a826.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Prosecutors intend to file charges in Racine County Jail attack | FOX6 News Milwaukee

Racine County inmate off life support, family seeks justice | FOX6 News Milwaukee

UPDATE: Inmate who reportedly was assaulted in Racine County Jail has died

From The Journal Times.com:

Annie Pulley

RACINE — An inmate who reportedly was assaulted by another prisoner Dec. 31 at the Racine County Jail was pronounced dead Jan. 1, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office.

Joseph Lee reportedly remains on life support as his family considers organ donation, according to his attorney, Jamie McClendon.

KCSO, which is conducting the investigation of the incident, identified Davonte Carraway as the alleged assailant and is recommending that the Racine County District Attorney’s Office charge Carraway with one count of first-degree intentional homicide.

According to online court records, Carraway has multiple cases pending in Racine County Circuit Court, one of which includes a charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

McClendon said Lee was transferred to RCJ from a correctional facility in Dodge County and was awaiting a hearing for a Racine County case in which he was facing multiple felony drug charges.

Lee’s next status conference had been scheduled for Jan. 10.

The alleged assault happened about 12:15 p.m. Dec. 31, according to a news release issued by the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.

The RCSO release said that the emergency buttons in every cell were functional, but none were activated.

RCSO has not responded to a request for further information.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/inmate-assaulted-racine-county-jail-dies/article_1cc1fc58-ca20-11ef-92a1-ebb19d4e14ff.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Racine County Jail inmate seriously injured in assault on New Year's Eve

From JSOnline:

Chris Ramirez

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Authorities are investigating an assault that occurred at the Racine County Jail on New Year's Eve that sent an inmate to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The incident was reported Tuesday around 12:15 p.m. in the jail's dayroom.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office said in a statement a corrections officer had just completed a safety and security check there moment beforehand as part of the department's protocol.

More:Panel upholds firing of former Milwaukee police detective convicted of disorderly conduct

The correctional officer continued to supervise inmates on the same wing when the inmate, a 35-year-old man from Racine, was attacked.

The officer found the victim unresponsive during their next safety and security check, and initiated lifesaving measures.

Security cameras in the dayroom captured footage of the assault, which Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said in the statement lasted "less than one minute."

All the emergency buttons in every cell were functional, but were not activated by any of the inmates who witnessed the assault, the sheriff's office said.

More:Darrell Brooks sentenced for intimidating witness before Waukesha parade killings

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries. He was immediately transported to a hospital, where he is currently receiving medical care.

The inmate who carried out the attack has been identified, and was segregated from all other inmates, the sheriff's office said.

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/01/02/inmate-in-racine-county-jail-inmate-fighting-for-his-lifsuffers-life-threatening-injuries-in-assault/77411241007/

EMS worker pleads no contest in sexual assault case

From The Journal Times.com:

Annie Pulley

RACINE — An EMS worker accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old girl while she was in the back of an ambulance pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges Nov. 11.

According to online court records, 57-year-old Roger Kieffer faced one felony count of second-degree sexual assault by an employee of a child welfare agency or care/service residential facility and two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree sexual assault.

Kieffer pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charges, and the second-degree sexual assault charge was dismissed but read into the record.

The judge sentenced Kieffer to nine months in the Racine County Jail for each charge. However, Kieffer will only serve jail time if he breaks the terms of a three-year probation.

He also will be required to register as a sex offender.

Allegations

According to the criminal complaint, which was filed in March, Kieffer was alone in the back of the ambulance while he and his partner drove a 17-year-old patient from Aurora Medical Center in Mount Pleasant to Children’s Wisconsin after she reportedly overdosed on Oct. 30, 2023.

In a Nov. 22, 2023, forensic interview with the Child Advocacy Center, the girl reportedly said that Kieffer performed what he called a pelvic exam.

Kieffer’s incident report did not mention a pelvic exam, and he reportedly denied remembering the girl.

The criminal complaint also notes that Kieffer reportedly lost his teaching job at Waukesha County Technical College after he was alleged to have inappropriately touched students.

Kieffer was fired from the ambulance service in December 2023.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/ems-worker-no-contest-sexual-assault/article_a1619d22-a07e-11ef-bd5c-5b0f0d733c1b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Racine County bomb threat; man provides confession: officials | FOX6 News Milwaukee

Racine man charged, drank beer in jail lobby: prosecutors

From Fox6Now:

Shawn Londre

RACINE, Wis. - A Racine man is charged with one count of disorderly conduct – accused of drinking a beer in the Racine County Jail's lobby on Thursday, March 3.

Prosecutors allege Shawn Londre, 47, repeatedly refused to leave the lobby upon request.

A criminal complaint states police were called to the Racine County Jail after it was reported that a man was drinking a beer in the lobby and refusing to leave. When they arrived, officers recognized the man – identified as Londre – from prior encounters. The complaint states Londre has previously been convicted of multiple offenses, most recently in December 2021.

The complaint states Londre had an open can of beer in his hand. After several officer commands to leave, he complied. During their interaction, officers said Londre was slurring his words and struggling to walk straight. He also smelled of intoxicants.

When officers issued Londre a citation for having the open beverage, the complaint states he crumbled it up and refused to leave. As he continued to refuse to leave, he was ultimately arrested. A search of Londre's person revealed a pint-size bottle of vodka in his pants pocket.

Londre was taken to the hospital for medical clearance because of his alleged intoxication. There, he allegedly pulled away from officers and refused to sit on the hospital bed – screaming at emergency room staff and yelling that he was going to kill officers, the complaint states. 

Londre made an initial court appearance on March 4, and a judge set cash bond at $200. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 2. 

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-jail-lobby-beer-charges

Racine County Jail fight, inmate charged

From Fox6Now:

Donald Hutchison

RACINE, Wis. - A Milwaukee man is charged with battery by prisoner and disorderly conduct after a fight at the Racine County Jail on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Prosecutors accuse Donald Hutchison, 26, of beating another inmate because of "owed pushups" on a basketball game bet.

Around 1:30 p.m. that Saturday, a criminal complaint states Hutchison walked into another inmate's cell. After an exchange of words, surveillance footage showed the inmate try to distance himself from Hutchison before Hutchison began punching him in the head and body.

Hutchison then took the inmate to the ground and continued swinging punches while atop of him. The inmate, the complaint states, was trying to defend himself from the attack but could not escape. When the inmate tried to get up, Hutchison allegedly grabbed him by the hair and continued punching him.

The beating lasted roughly 45 seconds, the complaint states. The inmate's nose was bleeding, and he was giving pain medication.

Racine County Jail

According to the complaint, the inmate told a deputy that he was assaulted because he "owed pushups" to Hutchison after they'd made a bet on a basketball game. He said Hutchison had never threatened him before.

Another inmate allegedly tried to block cameras and obstruct jail staff from viewing the attack. 

Hutchison made an initial court appearance on the charges stemming from the fight o Feb. 7. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 16.

Court documents state Hutchison has been previously convicted of burglary and child sex assault and was intermittently incarcerated from April 2013 through June 2021.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-county-jail-fight-inmate-charged

No criminal charges to be filed over death of man at Racine Co. Jail

From TMJ4:

Family says he was suffocated at the hands of the law enforcement officers

Photo by: Racine Co. Sheriff's Office

Body camera video of James in his jail cell.

By: Andrea Albers , TMJ4 Web Staff

Posted at 9:18 AM, Jan 06, 2022

 

and last updated 1:17 PM, Jan 06, 2022

RACINE, Wis. — The Racine County District Attorney will not file criminal charges against sheriff's office staff after a man died in the jail last year.

The attorney representing the family of Malcolm James was one of the first to speak during the press conference, held inside a small event space in Racine. Kevin O'Connor said on Wednesday night, for the first time, family members watched video from body-worn cameras. O'Connor said the video shows James gasping for breath for three minutes before he goes limp.

"Following a physical struggle and subdual by multiple officers the deceased became unresponsive while strapped in a restraint chair," said O'Connor while he addressed a small crowd at the press conference, at times, reading from a medical examiner's report.

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Office was appointed as an outside agency to lead an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Malcolm James. Based on that report, video evidence, and expert opinions, the Racine County District Attorney reached the conclusion that "There are no charges that could be filed in the death of Malcolm James that can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt."

Ahead of the announcement Thursday morning, the district attorney's office released their review of the incident, dated Jan. 5, 2022. The office said in an accompanying statement that District Attorney Tricia Hanson met with the family and loved ones of James on Wednesday.

Read and see more: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/no-criminal-charges-to-be-filed-over-death-of-man-at-racine-co-jail

Racine County Jail inmate's death ruled accidental overdose: sheriff

From Fox6Now:

RACINE, Wis. - The death of a Racine County Jail inmate has been ruled an accidental overdose, the sheriff's office said Friday, Dec. 3. 

The finding is the result of an investigation by the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department – the outside agency tasked with investigating the death of 22-year-old Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling ordered a "Len Bias" investigation into Ditello-Scott's death after he was found dead in a holding cell on May 29. The 22-year-old had been arrested and jailed for operating while intoxicated.

An autopsy, conducted by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, determined Ditello-Scott’s cause of death was "acute fentanyl toxicity."  The Racine County medical examiner determined that the manner of death to be "accidental." 

A review of the body camera recordings showed that while Ditello-Scott was in custody, deputies and correctional officers repeatedly asked him if he was on any substance other than marijuana. Ditello-Scott stated he was not on any other substance and, on several occasions, said that he was just very tired.

Racine County Jail

The lead investigator reported:

"Ditello Scott was arrested by Racine County Sheriff’s Deputies and arrived to the Racine Jail at 0410 Hrs. Deputies did not use force at any point during that contact.  Ditello Scott was booked into the Jail and placed in Male Holding #1 at 0510 Hrs. Jail staff did not use force at any point during that contact. Ditello Scott remained in Male Holding #1. At no point did Ditello Scott request medical assistance for himself.  At no point did any inmate request medical assistance for Ditello Scott. 

"I watched the facility footage of Ditello Scott from the time he laid down in Male Holding #1 to the time he was found not breathing by Correctional Officer S[.] and Nurse R[.] from 0510 Hrs to 0809 Hrs the uninterrupted video showed that Ditello Scott didn’t move from his bed and no one, including inmates, ever touched Ditello Scott while he was in Male Holding #1[.]"

Statement from Sheriff Schmaling:

"Every overdose death is a tragedy, and I am very concerned that there has been a 30% increase of overdose deaths, in a one-year period, in the United States. The reports are, during this same time period, over 100,000 people nationally have died from overdoses. Therefore, I am calling on the Racine County Metro Drug Task Force to continue its ‘Len Bias’ investigation into Ronquale’s death so that all of the individuals who are responsible for illegally peddling this poison can be held accountable in a court of law."

Ditello-Scott's death was the first of two at the jail in less than one week. Malcolm James, who was on suicide watch, suffered a "medical event" and died on June 1. The sheriff's office said he suffered the event while being medically evacuated by jail staff after he repeatedly slammed his head into a wall.

The deaths of both inmates spurred protests and demonstrations in the area in the days that followed.

Additional investigation details

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department investigation included:

• Interviews of all relevant witnesses, including: a gas station employee that saw Ditello-Scott before his arrest; the arresting deputies; jail staff and inmates; the deputy chief medical examiner of Milwaukee County; and the Racine County medical examiner
• A review of body-worn camera video and jail recordings
• A review of written reports and related documents
• A review of medical documentation and a defibrillator report
• A review of the physical evidence
• An additional search of the vehicle Ditello-Scott was driving, which resulted in the location of a small amount of marijuana and a pill that tested positive for fentanyl
• A forensic review of Ditello-Scott’s cellular phone
• An autopsy at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office

A "Len Bias" investigation/prosecution is named after the overdose death of basketball star Len Bias in 1986. Following Bias’ death, laws were passed that allowed for criminal prosecutions against all individuals involved in the supply chain that led to the victim possessing the controlled substance that caused their death.

In Wisconsin, this law is Wis. Stat. § 940.02(2)(a)3, First Degree Reckless Homicide.  The maximum penalty for this type of homicide is a fine not to exceed $100,000, imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, or both.

Therefore, the investigation into the homicide of Ditello-Scott is active and ongoing.

From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-county-jail-death-investigation-overdose