Tuesday, April 22, 2025
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Sunday, April 20, 2025
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Cops Gone Wild: 'Tennessee got it right.' FOX 17 News investigation leads to new 'sober dui' law
18-year-old charged with possessing child pornography
Caroline Neal
RACINE — An 18-year-old Racine man was arrested following cyber tips from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
Ernesto Roman faces six counts of possessing child pornography, which is a felony.
The maximum sentence if convicted is a fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to 25 years, or both. The court also will impose a surcharge of $500 for each image or copy of an image associated with the crime. Further, if convicted, the court will impose a bifurcated sentence that includes a term of initial confinement for at least three years.
During an April 15 hearing, Racine County Court Commission Alice Rudebusch set Roman’s cash bond at $25,000. He is scheduled to appear in court April 23.
According to a criminal complaint, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after receiving two cyber tips, both of which contained child pornography and were generated by WhatsApp, from the Wisconsin DOJ.
Investigators obtained a warrant for the account and submitted it to WhatsApp. Information obtained through the warrant reportedly indicated that Roman was the account owner and revealed six videos containing child pornography.
On April 14, RCSO investigators executed a search warrant at Roman’s home.
According to the complaint, Roman was questioned and allegedly provided information connecting him to the cyber tips and the account.
Friday, April 18, 2025
Teachers Gone Wild: Former gym teacher charged in connection to alleged child sexual assault
Caroline Neal
JANESVILLE — A 57-year-old Janesville man was charged Tuesday in connection to an alleged sexual assault that reportedly occurred when he was a gym teacher at St. Thomas Day School in Waterford.
Michael Pipp faces one count of first degree child sexual assault with a person under 13 and one count of child enticement.
Both charges are considered repeat offenses because of a 2016 Waukesha County case in which Pipp was convicted of causing mental harm to a child.
Racine County Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch set a $20,000 cash bond during an April 15 hearing. Pipp is scheduled to appear in court on April 24.
According to a criminal complaint, the alleged assault occurred during the 2014-15 school year when Pipp was employed at the school.
Following Pipp’s charges in Waukesha County, the school sent a letter informing parents of his termination and the allegations against him.
In 2022, a forensic interview was conducted with the child, during which she reportedly alleged that Pipp sexually assaulted her during gym class.
52-year-old charged with child sexual assault
Caroline Neal
RACINE — A 52-year-old Racine man has been accused in connection to an alleged sexual assault of a child.
Larry Bergey is charged with first degree child sexual assault with a child under 13 and one count of exposing genitals.
Online court records show that Racine County Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch set Bergey’s cash bond at $50,000 during an April 15 hearing. He is scheduled to appear in court April 23.
According to a criminal complaint, officers from the Racine Police Department were dispatched to an elementary school in March in response to allegations a child had been sexually assaulted.
RPD interviewed the child, who reportedly alleged that Bergey sexually assaulted her and “told her not to tell anyone.”
In an April 14 statement, Bergey allegedly said he had “an incident” with the child weeks earlier, during which he touched her genitals and exposed his genitals to her.
According to the complaint, Bergey also reportedly described a different occurrence with the child’s sister.
Bergey allegedly admitted to taking a photo of the sister’s genitals for “medical purposes,” and to sending the photo to an Oak Creek man, from whom Bergey said he received child pornography.
According to the complaint, Bergey reportedly said the man would text him ideas of what to do with the children and discussed incest and fantasies regarding underaged girls.
There is an ongoing investigation into Bergey’s alleged statements about distributing and receiving child pornography.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
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Main Street to close for construction April 21 through June 21
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Starting Monday, April 21, Main Street will close to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between Goold and Augusta streets for road reconstruction.
The closure is expected to last until June 21. Melvin Avenue, Erie Street and Goold Street can be used as detours, the city said, and the Goold Street and Melvin Avenue intersections will remain open.
A second phase of the project is scheduled to begin July 7 and is expected to be completed by the end of October. Work will be done on Main Street between Augusta Street and Melvin Avenue.
The west side will be rebuilt first, leaving one northbound lane open. Then, the east side will be rebuilt, leaving one southbound lane open.
During both phases, no parking will be allowed on North Main Street. Alternate-side parking restrictions will be waived within a two-block radius of the project area.
Access to driveways and nearby side streets, such as Augusta, Wolff and William streets, will be limited, depending on construction activity and traffic direction.
The city said it will accommodate special access needs and can provide designated handicap parking upon request.
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