Racine County, Wisconsin · August 11, 2026 Primary · H.O.T. Government — Honest Open Transparent
She Knew. She Did
Nothing.
For eight months, convicted child predator Preston Kite wore a Racine County badge after his supervisor received complaints about his predatory behavior. That supervisor — Captain Cary Madrigal — suppressed those complaints, took no formal action, and then publicly claimed she never knew. Now she wants to be your Sheriff.
Seven public officials are endorsing her. H.O.T. Government says NO.
Three-part investigative coverage of the Kite network, Madrigal’s role, and the institutional failure that allowed it to continue. Watch the full video report, then listen to the two-part audio series.
VIDEO
Full Investigative Report
Encrypted Apps, Government Officials, a Sworn Confession & Total Institutional Silence
AUDIO · PART 1
The Racine County Sheriff Candidate Who Protected a Child Predator
Cary Madrigal, her documented knowledge of Kite’s conduct, and the choices she made as his supervisor.
AUDIO · PART 2
How a Multi-County CSAM Ring Hid Inside Wisconsin’s Public Institutions
The four-person network, how it operated across county lines, and how public institutions enabled it to persist.
The Complete Record
A Timeline of Failure
Every date below is sourced from official court records, sworn affidavits, authenticated investigative reports, and verified news coverage. This is not allegation. This is the documented record.
Summer 2022
First Known Complaint — Kite Sends Explicit Image to Fellow Deputy
A RASO deputy receives an unsolicited sexually explicit image from Kite. He discloses this at a training within about a month. The complaint existed inside the department.
June – July 2023
Madrigal Seeks Out the Deputy Herself — Chooses Informal “Handling”
Captain Madrigal approaches the complaining deputy in the LEC hallway and tells him she “heard about the Kite stuff.” Rather than initiating formal proceedings, she asks him to informally talk to Kite. No formal action taken. Key Evidence
November 2023
Second Direct Report — “I Guess We’ll Have to Address It”
The deputy reports directly to Madrigal in her office. A second deputy is present and confirms the same. Madrigal responds: “I guess we will have to address it” and suggests “closed door meetings.” No formal action taken. No report filed. Investigators later conducted a follow-up interview of Madrigal after finding her initial account inconsistent with multiple witness statements. Key EvidenceUpdated
January 2024
Kite Babysits a 9-Year-Old Child While Still on Active Duty
While still on duty, Kite babysits a 9-year-old child. After his arrest, investigators are contacted — the child exhibited behavioral changes and told a detective something “weird” happened that the child was not OK with. No public accounting of this child’s investigation has ever been made.
February 3–4, 2024
Kite Arrested by Kenosha County — On Duty, in Uniform — CSAM Cache Discovered
Kite is caught masturbating in a public bathroom in full uniform while on duty (Kenosha Co. DA Case No. 2024KN000620). He attempts to coerce the complainant into a stall. Kenosha County deputies — not RASO — make the arrest. His devices reveal CSAM depicting toddlers. Network member Adam Westbrook deletes his Snapchat account the same day.Arrest
February 2024
Madrigal Claims Ignorance — Then Retaliates Against a Witness
At a departmental forum Madrigal publicly claims this was “the first she had heard” of Kite sending explicit images — a statement directly contradicted by multiple corroborating witnesses. When a deputy confronted her directly, she told him he was “on thin ice” for calling Kite a predator. He then filed a formal complaint against her. Retaliation
February 20, 2025
Madrigal Accepts 10-Day Suspension — Waives Right to Contest
At a Loudermill meeting, Madrigal accepts a 10-day suspension without pay (RASO File No. 25DC20) and waives her right to a hearing. The same Sheriff Schmaling who previously called Kite “an excellent example” of a deputy imposed the discipline.
July 22, 2025
Kite Names RASO Colleagues Under Oath — Never Reported, Never Investigated
At sentencing, Kite states under oath: “I was having multiple sexual partners including two other deputies and a supervisor within my own department. And an ADA from a neighboring county who encouraged me to go to a rest stop to engage in sexual activity that he partaked in himself.” A comprehensive June 2026 media search confirms this has never been reported by any outlet. No investigation has been announced. Unreported
October 14, 2025
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Vos Presents Madrigal “First Responder of the Year” at State Capitol
Eight months after accepting her suspension, Madrigal is honored on the floor of the Wisconsin State Assembly by Speaker Robin Vos, who calls her “a true leader” who has “dedicated her life to protecting those in her community.” H.O.T. Government has formally asked Speaker Vos whether he knew of the disciplinary finding before presenting the award. New
May 14–18, 2026
Court Orders Records Released — Madrigal Contradicts Her Own Discipline Publicly
Judge Gasiorkiewicz orders Madrigal’s disciplinary records released after she sued to block them. Three days later she states publicly: “If I had any indication as to how Preston Kite was involved in, I would’ve been the first one to put the handcuffs on him.” The Hall investigation and multiple witnesses document the opposite. Her disciplinary file also reveals a 2021 preventable squad crash reprimand — a fourth disciplinary incident not previously public. ContradictionUpdated
May 15, 2026
Westbrook Sentenced — Network Fully Adjudicated
Adam Westbrook sentenced to 10 years federal prison (PACER No. 3:24-cr-00019, U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, Judge James Peterson). He had tried to withdraw his plea and challenge the statute as unconstitutional — both attempts denied. The four-person network is now fully convicted. New
July 7, 2026
Boudreau Returns to Court — Network Still Active in Wisconsin Courts
Jacob Boudreau — already serving 15 years for child pornography — appears in Outagamie County Circuit Court on four additional bestiality charges filed September 2025. 35 days before the August 11 primary, another member of Kite’s network is still in active Wisconsin court proceedings.Upcoming
Sworn Statement · Open Court · July 22, 2025 · Case No. 2024CF000164 · Never Reported by Any Media Outlet
“I was having multiple sexual partners including two other deputies and a supervisor within my own department. And an ADA from a neighboring county who encouraged me to go to a rest stop to engage in sexual activity that he partaked in himself.”
Preston Kite · Racine County Circuit Court · Sentencing Hearing · Document 39, Filed July 22, 2025
Two Deputies · One Supervisor · One ADA · None Identified · None Investigated · None Cleared
The Full Picture
Kite Was Not Acting Alone
The investigation into Kite produced four total convictions across multiple Wisconsin counties and federal court. This was a network — it spanned government offices, reached into communities, and had access to children. All four are now convicted.
65 yrs
Preston Kite
Former RASO Deputy · Racine Co. Case No. 2024CF000164
45 felonies including child sexual exploitation and CSAM depicting toddlers. On active duty in uniform for 8+ months after his supervisor received complaints. Named two RASO deputies, one supervisor, and one ADA as sexual partners under oath. Investigated ICAC access from inside RASO.
10 yrs
Adam Westbrook
Former Outagamie Co. HR Director · Federal: PACER No. 3:24-cr-00019
Filmed a child at a Wisconsin Dells hotel and sent footage to Kite. Former Neenah city attorney. Former Sheboygan HR Director. Directed children in school musicals at two Wisconsin school districts at time of arrest. Deleted Snapchat the day Kite was arrested. Sentenced May 15, 2026.
15 yrs
Jacob Boudreau
Menasha Business Owner · Winnebago Co. + Outagamie Co.
Exchanged CSAM and bestiality material with both Westbrook and Kite via Snapchat and Twitter. Sentenced January 23, 2025 by Judge Michael Rust — nearly double the state’s recommendation. Open Case: Outagamie Co. · July 7, 2026 Hearing
1 yr
Noah Thiel
Oconomowoc · Outagamie County Circuit Court
Bestiality offenses. Shared residence with Boudreau where investigators found four dogs and evidence of ongoing animal abuse. Sentenced January 29, 2025.
The Institutional Failure
Why H.O.T. Government Calls This a Cover-Up
A cover-up is not always a conspiracy. Sometimes it is a series of deliberate choices by people in authority to look away, investigate narrowly, discipline lightly, honor publicly, and endorse quickly.
Failure 01
The Investigation That Wasn’t
Schmaling commissioned an outside review — but scoped it to examine Madrigal’s supervisory conduct only. It did not investigate the two deputies and supervisor Kite later named as sexual partners under oath. It did not investigate whether a personal relationship between Madrigal and Kite — including witness statements that Kite rented property from Madrigal — affected how complaints were handled. The result was a 10-day suspension and an endorsement.
Failure 02 Updated
The Property Relationship Nobody Investigated
The Kenosha County Eye’s May 2026 investigation confirmed that witness statements in the official disciplinary file document that employees believed Kite rented property from Madrigal and that this personal relationship affected their confidence she would act on complaints. Investigators also conducted a follow-up interview of Madrigal after finding her initial account inconsistent with multiple witnesses. Neither the property relationship nor the inconsistent statements were publicly disclosed until court-ordered release of the disciplinary file in May 2026.
Failure 03
The Sworn Statement Nobody Investigated
Kite named two RASO deputies, one RASO supervisor, and an ADA from a neighboring county as sexual partners — under oath, in open court, July 22, 2025. A June 2026 statewide media archive search confirms this was never reported. No law enforcement agency has publicly announced any investigation. The two deputies and supervisor have not been publicly identified, cleared, or removed.
Failure 04
The DA Who Endorsed Without Answering
DA Patricia Hanson endorsed Madrigal without publicly stating whether her office reviewed the Hall investigation for any criminal referral obligation. She has not addressed Kite’s in-court disclosure that an ADA from a neighboring county encouraged him to engage in public sexual conduct. She has not addressed whether the CSAM network — three higher-ranking individuals identified at sentencing — has been fully prosecuted.
Failure 05
The Child Nobody Is Talking About
After Kite’s arrest, investigators were contacted about a 9-year-old child Kite babysat in January 2024 who subsequently exhibited behavioral changes and told a detective something “weird” happened. This child is separate from the child victim identified at sentencing. No public accounting of this child’s investigation has ever been given by any official.
Failure 06 New
The State Honor Given After the Discipline
On October 14, 2025 — eight months after Madrigal accepted a 10-day suspension — Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos presented her with the 33rd Assembly District’s “First Responder of the Year” award on the State Capitol floor, calling her “a true leader” dedicated to “protecting those in her community.” H.O.T. Government has formally demanded Speaker Vos answer whether he knew of the disciplinary finding before making that presentation.
Failure 07
Westbrook’s Snapchat Deletion — Never Examined Publicly
Adam Westbrook deleted his Snapchat account the day Kite was arrested. Westbrook was sentenced in federal court on May 15, 2026 for distributing CSAM via Snapchat. Whether his account deletion triggered any obstruction inquiry has never been publicly addressed by any Wisconsin law enforcement agency or DA’s office.
Failure 08
The Endorsement Structure That Protects Itself
Schmaling praised Kite, scoped the investigation, imposed the 10-day suspension, and endorsed Madrigal. DA Patricia Hanson endorsed without publicly answering criminal referral questions. County Executive Malicki wore a campaign shirt without asking whether the two named deputies are still on the force. Speaker Vos gave a state honor without disclosing whether he knew of the discipline. Every endorser — seven in total — has a direct interest in this story remaining contained.
Her Own Words
Madrigal’s Public Statement
On May 17, 2026 — three days after a judge ordered her disciplinary records released — Cary Madrigal posted the following statement to Facebook. Read it against the documented record.
Cary Madrigal for Racine County Sheriff · Facebook · May 17, 2026 · 9:22 PM
“Over the course of a law enforcement career, deputies are routinely exposed to situations that most people will never experience. Unfortunately, humor is sometimes used within the profession as a coping mechanism to manage the emotional toll of the job. Stories, rumors, and personal matters often circulate quickly within agencies, particularly over decades of service.”
“Like many people, I have learned valuable lessons from past mistakes. While some decisions brought personal and professional embarrassment, they also helped shape me into a stronger, more self-aware, and more confident leader.”
“As a Captain and the third-highest ranking member of the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, I have always believed in accountability. I accepted responsibility for my decisions, cooperated fully with the process, and received appropriate discipline. However, I do not believe those regrettable moments define my character, my integrity, or my decades of commitment to public safety and leadership.”
“I want our community to know that I have nothing to hide. I exercised my legal right to challenge an open records request of my disciplinary files. By doing so, I ensured a judge reviewed the documents for privacy exceptions. Following the Judge’s recent ruling to release the records which I anticipated, I accept his decision and will not appeal.”
“I have dedicated most of my adult life to serving and protecting others… Ultimately, I hope to earn your trust, your confidence, and your support as the next Racine County Sheriff.”
What the Record Shows
She calls it “humor” and “stories and rumors”
The RASO disciplinary file (25DC20) documents that deputies reported Kite was actively sending explicit sexual images to colleagues — not sharing gossip. Investigators found her initial account of what she knew inconsistent with multiple corroborating witnesses and conducted a follow-up interview.
“Accepted responsibility… received appropriate discipline”
She accepted a 10-day suspension at a Loudermill meeting on February 20, 2025 — and waived her right to contest it. She chose not to fight it, yet launched a lawsuit to prevent the public from reading what it was for.
“I have nothing to hide”
She sued Racine County to block public release of her disciplinary records. The lawsuit failed. A judge ordered release. She is running for the office of Sheriff while opposing public accountability for her own documented failures as a supervisor.
“If I had any indication… I would have been the first to put handcuffs on him”
This direct quote — from the same post — is flatly contradicted by her own disciplinary file: two documented in-person complaints to her, her acknowledgment she had “heard about the Kite stuff,” and her own admission she told investigators she knew. This is not ambiguity. This is the central fact of the investigation.
The Criminal Record
Kite’s Conviction by the Numbers
The following is drawn from State of Wisconsin Circuit Court, Racine County, Case No. 2024CF000164 — the formal judgment of conviction filed March 5, 2025, and the sentencing transcript filed July 22, 2025. Preston Kite was a Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy in active service the entire time these crimes were committed.
40
Total Charges
55
Years Confinement
No
Contest Plea
Life
Sex Offender Registry
Convicted Charges
Possession of Child Pornography (CSAM)13 counts
Child Sexual Exploitation – Produce/Distribute17 counts
Lewd and Lascivious Behavior (public exposure)1 count
Disorderly Conduct1 count
Judgment of Conviction — Doc. 30 — Filed 03-05-2025 — Racine County Circuit Court Branch 7 — Judge Jon E. Fredrickson
Sentencing Structure
Class C Felonies (exploitation counts)40 yrs each
Class D Felonies (possession counts)25 yrs each
Total initial confinement imposed55 years
Kite’s age at sentencing~38 years
Sentence credit (time served)396 days
Per the court: “The gravity of your offense, it couldn’t be graver.” — Judge Fredrickson, sentencing hearing, February 28, 2025
Judge Jon E. Fredrickson · Racine County Circuit Court · Sentencing Hearing · February 28, 2025
“You tarnished Racine County Sheriff’s Department by what you did. And sworn officers everywhere. It gives people the impression that there’s maybe not just one Preston Kite out there in uniform — maybe there’s lots of Preston Kites. And that harms the community. That harms the trust people have.”
“I tell my kids from a young age if there is a problem run to law enforcement, they will help you. If they ran to you, I don’t know what would happen to them.”
The mother of the child Kite was babysitting — a child Kite had used his position as a trusted family friend and fellow law enforcement professional to access — addressed the court directly:
“Growing up I was taught police are there to serve and protect the community. To be the people to rely on and trust to guide you through the most unimaginable moments in one’s life. The last thing I ever expected was to have not only someone who took that oath but someone whom I considered family to take advantage and destroy all trust.”
“Considering the sexual nature of this crime and the fact that Preston Kite should be held to a higher standard due to the oath that he took to protect and serve I ask that you sentence him to the maximum sentence allowable by law without parole.”
Each of these seven officials has publicly endorsed, honored, or actively promoted Captain Madrigal’s campaign. Each has questions on the public record they have not answered. H.O.T. Government will publish all responses — or non-responses — before August 11, 2026.
Sheriff Chris Schmaling
Outgoing Sheriff · Endorser · Campaign Event
Called Kite “an excellent example.” Scoped the investigation to exclude Kite’s named RASO colleagues. Gave Madrigal 10 days. Now endorsing her for his own seat. Has he confirmed whether the two deputies Kite named are still on the force?
DA Patricia Hanson
Racine County District Attorney · Endorser · Campaign Shirt
Has not stated whether her office reviewed Hall findings for any criminal referral. Has not addressed the ADA Kite named under oath. Has not addressed the CSAM network’s three higher-ranking members. Has she asked any of these questions?
Ralph Malicki
Racine County Executive · Endorser · Campaign Shirt
Wore a Madrigal campaign shirt without demanding answers. Has not publicly requested the County Board be briefed on Kite’s sworn in-court statement. Has he asked whether those deputies are still employed by the county?
Oct 14, 2025 · State Capitol
New — Added June 2026
Speaker Robin Vos
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker · First Responder Award · 8 Months After Discipline
Called her “a true leader” dedicated to “protecting those in her community” — eight months after she accepted discipline for failing to protect her community. Did he know? H.O.T. Government has formally demanded an answer.
New — Added June 2026
Steve Wicklund
State Assembly Candidate · Union Grove · Cross-Endorsement
Assembly candidate Steve Wicklund and Madrigal are cross-endorsing each other’s campaigns. Both appeared together at her campaign event. Has Wicklund reviewed her disciplinary record before lending his name and campaign to her candidacy?
New — Added June 2026
Speaker Robin Vos
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker · Posted Madrigal Campaign Photo to His Facebook Page
Vos presented Madrigal “First Responder of the Year” at the State Capitol in October 2025, then posted her campaign group photo to his official Facebook page — making him an active public endorser. H.O.T. Government has formally asked whether he knew of her disciplinary record. No response yet.
New — Added June 2026
Racine Co. Republican Party
Full Party Endorsement · Campaign Event · Vos Facebook Post
This campaign group photo was posted to Speaker Vos’s official Facebook page, publicly associating the Wisconsin Assembly Speaker’s platform with Madrigal’s campaign. The full party apparatus — local and state — is behind her. Has any party official asked about Kite’s sworn in-court statement naming RASO colleagues?
Still No Answers
The Questions Nobody Will Answer
H.O.T. Government has formally submitted these questions to RASO, DA Hanson, the County Board, Speaker Vos, Assembly candidate Wicklund, the LESB, the Wisconsin DOJ, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the FBI. All responses — and all non-responses — will be published before August 11, 2026.
01
Who are the two RASO deputies Kite named as sexual partners under oath — and are they still wearing a Racine County badge?
Kite stated this under oath on July 22, 2025. No public official has answered this question. No media outlet has reported it.
02
Who is the RASO supervisor Kite named as a sexual partner — and have they been investigated?
Separate from Madrigal’s disciplinary case. The Hall investigation was explicitly scoped to exclude this question.
03
Did Kite rent property from Madrigal — and did that relationship affect how complaints about him were handled?
Witness statements in the official disciplinary file document this belief among RASO employees. The narrowly scoped Hall investigation did not fully investigate it.
04
Which ADA from a neighboring county did Kite name — and has DA Patricia Hanson referred that matter to any agency?
Kite stated the ADA encouraged him to engage in public sexual activity and personally participated. Hanson has not publicly addressed this sworn statement.
05
What is the current status of the investigation into the 9-year-old child who was in Kite’s care in January 2024?
Investigators were contacted after Kite’s arrest. The child exhibited behavioral changes and disclosed concerning events to a detective. No public update has ever been given.
06
Did Adam Westbrook’s Snapchat deletion on the day of Kite’s arrest trigger any obstruction inquiry?
Westbrook was sentenced May 15, 2026 for distributing CSAM via Snapchat. He deleted his account the day of Kite’s arrest. No public statement has ever addressed whether this was examined.
07
Did Speaker Vos know about Madrigal’s disciplinary finding before presenting her the First Responder of the Year award on October 14, 2025?
H.O.T. Government has submitted a formal inquiry to Speaker Vos’s office. His response — or non-response — will be published before August 11.
08
Why did Madrigal publicly claim she had “no indication” of Kite’s behavior — after accepting formal discipline for suppressing those complaints?
Her May 18, 2026 public statement directly contradicts the Hall investigation findings and multiple corroborating witnesses. She accepted the discipline without contest.
09
Were the three “higher-ranking” network members identified at Kite’s sentencing all prosecuted — or are some still unaccounted for?
The prosecutor described Kite as connected to three higher-ranking individuals circulating CSAM across Wisconsin and beyond. The four convictions account for a network of four — but the three “higher-ranking” description suggests possible additional exposure.
10
Did Assembly candidate Steve Wicklund review Madrigal’s disciplinary record before cross-endorsing her campaign?
Wicklund appeared at Madrigal’s campaign event and the two are mutually endorsing each other. As a candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly, voters in his district deserve to know whether he is aware of RASO File No. 25DC20 and Kite’s sworn in-court disclosures.
H.O.T. Government Demands Her Resignation
Captain Cary Madrigal should not be running for sheriff. She should be resigning from the department she failed to protect.
H.O.T. Government — Honest Open Transparent — formally calls on Captain Madrigal to immediately resign from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office on the following documented grounds:
01
Deliberate suppression of formal disciplinary process for 8+ months while a predator remained on active duty with access to the public and to the children of colleagues.
02
Public false statements to fellow officers after Kite’s arrest, claiming she had never heard of his behavior — directly contradicted by the Hall investigation and multiple corroborating witnesses.
03
Retaliation against a complaining witness, telling a deputy he was “on thin ice” for identifying Kite as a predator in the immediate aftermath of a child sex crimes arrest.
04
Continued public misrepresentation on May 18, 2026, stating she would have “been the first to put the handcuffs on” Kite — after accepting a formal disciplinary finding that she did the opposite.
05
Attempt to suppress public records documenting her misconduct through a Woznicki lawsuit — records a court ruled the public has a right to see.
06
Four separate disciplinary incidents across her career, including the 2025 Kite matter, a 2012 suspension for consuming drug evidence, a 2006 suspension for compromising a federal investigation, and a 2021 preventable squad crash reprimand.
An officer with this documented record should not hold command authority — regardless of election outcome.
County Board meetings are open to the public and your comments go on the record. Officials cannot ignore a room full of constituents the way they can ignore an email.
County Board Chambers 14200 Washington Ave. Sturtevant, WI 53177
Tip
Arrive 15 min early to sign up for public comment.
What to say: State your name and municipality. Ask one question: “Has this board demanded an independent investigation into the RASO personnel named under oath by Preston Kite? Yes or no?” Then sit down.
Action 03
Sign the Petition
We are collecting signatures demanding a full independent investigation. When we hit our threshold, we present it in person at a County Board meeting. Signing also keeps you informed as this story develops.
“I, a Racine County resident, demand a full independent investigation into the conduct of Cary Madrigal and into the RASO personnel named under oath by Preston Kite — conducted by an agency with no connection to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.”
0
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Thank you for signing. We’ll be in touch as this investigation develops.
