Plenty of confusion and even more questions in a South Milwaukee neighborhood, as South Milwaukee Police investigate a registered sex offender who may be living just steps away from Lakeview Elementary School.The investigation began after a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feature story about a couple’s extravagant garden, set to be part of the South Milwaukee Garden Club & Historical Society’s Garden Tour this weekend.”That article is what prompted the investigation. We then talked to a neighbor who confirmed that he may be living there,” said South Milwaukee police Chief William Jessup.Jessup confirmed to WISN 12 News that Todd Kester, a lifelong registered sex offender, may be breaking the law.In 2000, the court convicted Kester of sexual assault of a child.The article in question, a June 9 feature piece in the Journal Sentinel, describes the extravagant home Kester shares with his partner.Chief Jessup says Kester has been on SMPD’s radar for quite some time.”Todd Kester is a sex offender that was released about a decade ago. He initially had an address in South Milwaukee. That address did not comply with our ordinance on restricted areas for Sex Offenders in South Milwaukee, so at that point, roughly 10 years ago, he was told he had to move to a different location.””We recently became aware he may be living in South Milwaukee in an area that is restricted, so we started investigating.”South Milwaukee’s city ordinance and state law prohibit any registered sex offender from living within 1,000 feet of a school.WISN 12 went to the address in question. Kester showed his face through the door, then walked away.WISN 12 also went to the home listed as his address on the state’s sex offender registry, a rooming house in Bayview. No one answered.We asked Chief Jessup what would happen to Kester if he’s found in violation of the law.”He would be forced to move. He certainly has a right to come to that location. He doesn’t have a right to live there,” Chief Jessup said.WISN 12 News has reached out to the South Milwaukee Garden Club and has not heard back.
Plenty of confusion and even more questions in a South Milwaukee neighborhood, as South Milwaukee Police investigate a registered sex offender who may be living just steps away from Lakeview Elementary School.
The investigation began after a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feature story about a couple’s extravagant garden, set to be part of the South Milwaukee Garden Club & Historical Society’s Garden Tour this weekend.
“That article is what prompted the investigation. We then talked to a neighbor who confirmed that he may be living there,” said South Milwaukee police Chief William Jessup.
Jessup confirmed to WISN 12 News that Todd Kester, a lifelong registered sex offender, may be breaking the law.
In 2000, the court convicted Kester of sexual assault of a child.
The article in question, a June 9 feature piece in the Journal Sentinel, describes the extravagant home Kester shares with his partner.
Chief Jessup says Kester has been on SMPD’s radar for quite some time.
“Todd Kester is a sex offender that was released about a decade ago. He initially had an address in South Milwaukee. That address did not comply with our ordinance on restricted areas for Sex Offenders in South Milwaukee, so at that point, roughly 10 years ago, he was told he had to move to a different location.”
“We recently became aware he may be living in South Milwaukee in an area that is restricted, so we started investigating.”
South Milwaukee’s city ordinance and state law prohibit any registered sex offender from living within 1,000 feet of a school.
WISN 12 went to the address in question. Kester showed his face through the door, then walked away.
WISN 12 also went to the home listed as his address on the state’s sex offender registry, a rooming house in Bayview. No one answered.
We asked Chief Jessup what would happen to Kester if he’s found in violation of the law.
“He would be forced to move. He certainly has a right to come to that location. He doesn’t have a right to live there,” Chief Jessup said.
WISN 12 News has reached out to the South Milwaukee Garden Club and has not heard back.
