MILWAUKEE (AP) – A Wisconsin juvenile court judge accused of possessing and distributing child pornography has been taken into federal custody after first appearing in court.
Attorney for Milwaukee County Circuit judge Brett Blomme, who was indicted in federal court on two cases of child pornography distribution, said in court Wednesday that Blomme had decided not to petition for release. Defender Chris Van Wagner called it a “strategic, tactical” decision, saying that Blomme was looking for an agreement.
Blomme, 40, of Cottage Grove was tried for the first time on March 17 in Dane County Circuit Court on seven cases of possession of child pornography.
According to the criminal complaint, the DOJ began investigating Blomme in February after receiving a notice from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Blomme had uploaded child pornography through the Kik messaging application 27 times in October and November.
In March, the Wisconsin Supreme Court passed an order temporarily prohibiting Blomme from exercising the powers of a county judge in the state of Wisconsin. The court concluded that due to the pending criminal proceedings, Blomme is unable to properly perform his official duties and added that the public interest required that he be temporarily released from his duties.
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