RACINE — Preston Kite, a former deputy with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced Friday to 55 years in prison for 21 felonies, most of which involved sex crimes against children and animals.
“I tell my kids from a young age, ‘If there’s a problem, run to law enforcement. They will help you,’” Judge Jon Fredrickson said to Kite in the courtroom. “If they ran to you, I don’t know what would happen.”
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Preston Kite sits next to defense attorney Tsz-King Tse at his sentencing hearing Friday. |
Kite, who is 38, was arrested and charged in February 2024 after he reportedly exposed himself to a man in a public restroom while in uniform.
Investigators reportedly found evidence that Kite exchanged pornographic images of toddlers and would text people about his sexual exploits with multiple different animals.
Soon after his initial arrest, Kite was charged in a second case alleging that he exposed himself to a 9-year-old boy he was babysitting.
Kite also was ordered to serve 25 years of extended supervision after his release, register as a sex offender and pay $620 in restitution.
Kite also owes $9,500 in surcharges for the counts of child pornography.
The 9-year-old boy’s mother made a statement in court and said Kite victimized both her son.
“I was taught police are there to serve and protect the community,” she said. “The last thing I ever expected was to have not only someone who took that oath but someone who I considered family to take advantage and destroy all that trust.”
According to previous reports, Kite’s case was investigated by the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by a Kenosha County attorney.
At the time of his arrest, Kite was placed on administrative leave and his employment was soon terminated.
Prosecuting attorney Jennifer Tanck-Adams said during her argument that Kite had started to look into what was required to become an Internet Crimes Against Children detective.
The RSCO’s ICAC unit investigates child pornography cases like Kite’s.
Rehabilitation would not be the proper response, Tanck-Adams said.
Kite’s defense attorney, Tsz-King Tse, argued for a prison sentence of 10 years. He said that Kite’s parents abused substances and that addictive personality type factored into Kite’s pornography obsession.
“I believe, unlike the state,” Tse said, “that Mr. Kite’s life can be salvaged instead of being spent entirely behind bars.”
Kite, he argued, is at low-to-moderate risk of reoffending, and his risk will only decrease with age.
Kite also made a statement, apologizing to the children harmed as well as to Racine County and law enforcement generally.
“Finally, I apologize to my friends and my family whose lives I turned upside down with grief and sadness,” Kite said. “I had this addiction issue, and it followed me into my professional life.”
Fredrickson responded, discounting Kite’s defense and noting the threat posed by Kite’s inclinations.
“You served your country,” Fredrickson said, referring to Kite’s previous military service. “I respect you for that. I respect you for trying to serve in Racine County. But you did far more harm than I can see you ever did good here.”
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