Judge denies motion to dismiss against former teacher
A Kenosha County Circuit Court judge has denied a motion to dismiss charges against a former Kenosha Unified middle school teacher accused of sending numerous inappropriate messages to one of his students.
Christian J. Enwright, 29, taught at the Kenosha School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum-West, before the School Board unanimously voted to end his employment in the spring.
Enwright, of Kenosha, was charged May 10 in Kenosha County Circuit Court with 22 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. Enright, out on a $5,000 cash bond, has pleaded not guilty.
According to the criminal complaint, while working as a seventh grade teacher between June 2023 and February 2024, Enwright communicated with a 13-14-year-old student via the social media app Snapchat, so frequently to the point in which Enwright sent 608 messages to the student in a one week.
"Based on (the detective's) training and experience, he recognized (Enwright's) behavior as manipulation, otherwise known as grooming," the complaint reads.
Grooming is a form of child sexual abuse that can involve the targeting and isolation of someone in order to gain their trust through a controlling relationship to manipulate, exploit and abuse the person, according to the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative.
There was no law against grooming in Wisconsin at the time the alleged conduct occurred, according to investigators.
Each of the 22 charges filed includes the possibility of a fine of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail, or both.
Defense attorneys Nicole Masnica and Jason David Luczak said the "charge doesn't really fit" and disorderly conduct could be "applied to just about anything."
Aassistant district attorney Alexandra Smathers countered that disorderly conduct "can fit multiple crimes."
Circuit Court Judge Gerad Dougvillo agreed with the state and denied the motion to dismiss the charge, stating disorderly conduct is "very broad" and can apply to "a wide range of activity."
He said Enwright's alleged actions are the "type of conduct that would provoke a disturbance" in the community.
Enwright's attorneys also asked that his bond be modified to allow his to have supervised or incidental contact with minor members of his extended family during family functions. Dougvillo said he has concerns about such contact and denied the request.
Dougvillo did modify Enwright's bond to allow him access to work email and any employment-based web application for work.
A jury trial is expected to take place next year and jury selection is scheduled for April 21, 2025.
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