Additional charges filed against Racine deputy

A Racine County deputy accused of child exploitation is now facing additional felony charges after a family came forward with new allegations.

Preston Kite, a Racine County Sheriff’s deputy and resident of Union Grove, was arrested Feb. 4 after an adult called 911 to report Kite had exposed himself while on duty and in uniform. An investigation into that allegation led to the discovery of child pornography on Kite’s phone.

Kite, 37, was charged on Feb. 8 with six felonies, including child exploitation.

On Thursday, Kite was back in court facing new charges in Racine County. The seven additional felony counts include accusations he exposed himself to a child, bestiality and possession of child pornography.

According to the criminal case in the new charges, a family contacted police after the initial charges became public. Kite had offered to care for a child in the family while one of the adults was out of town. After learning of the original accusations, the family was concerned.

Although initially too upset to speak to investigators, the child later said Kite had exposed himself. Photos on Kite’s phone match the child’s narrative, according to the complaint.

Other evidence gathered from Kite’s phone includes text messages in which he describes assaulting animals belonging to friends.

Additional child pornography charges in the complaint filed Thursday are tied to the federal prosecution of Adam Westbrook of Neenah. Westbrook, a former Milwaukee County prosecutor who most recently was working as human resources director of Outagamie County, is alleged to have exchanged sexually explicit photos of a child with Kite. Those photos were discovered during the initial investigation of the deputy.

Westbrook, through his attorney, denies that allegation.

Although he is charged in Racine County, Kite is being held in Kenosha County Jail. A special prosecutor from Kenosha County is handling the case to avoid conflicts because of the tie to Racine County law enforcement.

Kite’s case could have an impact on the prosecution of other ongoing criminal cases according to WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. The Racine County District Attorney is reviewing those in which Kite was the arresting officer.

Already being held in custody on $150,000 bond, a court commissioner on Thursday set Kite’s bond at $100,000 on the new charges. To be released from custody while his cases are pending , he would need to post the full $250,000. If released, under the conditions of his bond, he would remain on house arrest and with no access to the internet until his cases are resolved.

Kite does not yet have an attorney. He is due back in court for an attorney status hearing on March 7.