County officials respond to Wheatland sex offender concerns

Wheatland Town Constable Robert Santelli Jr. reads off a series of questions submitted by those in attendance at a public information on release of two sex offenders. Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Michael Graveley (left) and Sheriff David Beth (right) gave statements earlier in the meeting (Jason Arndt/The Report).
Wheatland Town Constable Robert Santelli Jr. reads off a series of questions submitted by those in attendance at a public information on release of two sex offenders. Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Michael Graveley (left) and Sheriff David Beth (right) gave statements earlier in the meeting (Jason Arndt/The Report).

UPDATE: At 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete responded to the placement of Michael McGee, one of two proposed in the Town of Wheatland. Updates are added to the story below in italics.

 

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

As Wheatland residents expressed outrage at Wednesday’s Town Hall meeting on placement of two sexually violent offenders, Kenosha County authorities worked to quell the worries, and conveyed optimism that it will not happen.

Outrage stemmed from a Department of Health Services recommendation to Racine and Milwaukee County circuit courts, unknown to both counties a child lived next door to the 32200 Geneva Road property.

Robert McGee
Robert McGee

Because Robert and Michael McGee of Milwaukee and Racine County, respectively, were convicted prior to 1990, they were not subject to new state statutes, therefore, not defined as dangerous under DHS guidelines.

Both are expected for release from Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston into the Town of Wheatland on, or before May 20 – in an announcement by Jason Cram of the state Department of Health Services.

The McGee’s are not related.

The placement does not sit well with Mark Rogers, the father of the child, informed by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office Monday.

“It is not a good thing for anybody, not a good thing for my family, not a good thing for Wheatland, not a good thing all around,” Rogers said. “It is a scary thing. You want to protect your family.”

Kenosha County authorities told those in an attendance the DHS informed them Friday, and sprung to action, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Graveley.

Graveley consulted with County Executive Jim Kreuser, County Corporate Counsel, Wheatland Town Attorney Todd Terry and court officials in Racine and Milwaukee counties and State Rep. Samantha Kerkman of the 61st Assembly District.

Terry filed a motion in Racine County Circuit Court Wednesday requesting a stay in the placement of Michael McGee.

After discussions with the DHS about placement of 55-year-old Robert McGee, convicted in Milwaukee County of first-degree sexual assault in 1989, Graveley stated the state agency changed its position.

Michael McGee
Michael McGee

“To the credit of their department, the DHS agreed with us,” Graveley stated. “The DHS has backed off the Milwaukee County offender.”

“I have been told by the Milwaukee prosecutor that they should have been standing for public safety,” he added.

Graveley expects a final decision on the ruling in Milwaukee County within a few days.

The Report requested Robert McGee’s court records in Milwaukee County Thursday, but the clerk of courts stated his file is off-site, and will not be available until Monday.

In the case of Michael McGee, Graveley discussed placement with Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete, who reportedly fought to keep Michael McGee in custody for several years.

Michael McGee, 53, had been convicted of one count second-degree sexual assault and a count of burglary in 1987.

“I spoke to Rich this morning, now having understood every aspect to this case,” Graveley said. “Rich Chiapete fought year after year to keep sexual offender Michael McGee in hospital for sex offenders because he was not cooperative with treatment.”

Residents at the Town Hall meeting collectively gasped when they learned of the Racine County case.

However, Graveley assured citizens that him and Chiapete are working together to stop placement of Michael McGee.

“I have already been told by (Chiapete) in Racine that he is going to join us and say it is not appropriate placement,” Graveley said.

Upon Michael McGee’s release from custody in 2004, Chiapete served as prosecutor when Michael McGee received a civil commitment as a sexually violent person.

“He was civilly committed under Chapter 980, as a sexually violent person,” Chiapete stated through an email Thursday. “That commitment began on May 25, 2004.”
The Racine County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to questions related to how long Michael McGee served in custody and the date he molested a 10-year-old male relative.
Additionally, the Report requested court records from Racine County, but according to the Clerk of Courts, it could take up to a week.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told the standing room only crowd that he is certain certainty placement will not happen in either case.

“I believe that they will not be here in nine days,” Beth said. “I am 99.9 percent certain.”

Michael McGee’s motion hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 18 in Racine County Circuit Court before Judge Allan Torhorst, who presided over McGee’s previous contested trials, according to Court Records.

“We have had multiple contested trials on his commitment,” Chiapete said.

Further developments will be available on mykenoshacounty.com


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One response to “County officials respond to Wheatland sex offender concerns”

  1. Brenda Wolf Avatar
    Brenda Wolf

    And they are suppose to go back to the county that they did the crime in i thought.