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    • Former West Allis day laborer faces child pornography charges
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    Former West Allis day laborer faces child pornography charges

    Online Niel Posted on

    A former West Allis preschool employee is facing multiple child pornography charges.

    Jonathan Burkee, 25, of West Allis, was charged Nov. 13 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with one count of child sexual exploitation and five counts of child pornography, all felonies. If convicted of all charges, Burkee faces up to 165 years in prison and fines of up to $600,000.

    Burkee was employed at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in West Allis

    According to the criminal complaint:

    On Nov. 6, a West Allis police detective was contacted by an FBI agent about a cybercrime discovered Nov. 5 in an online chat room. The agent told the detective that the victim was an 11-year-old girl who was a student at St. Paul of West Allis.

    Investigators discovered that several inappropriate photos of a young woman were found in the chat room. The photos appear to be taken in a school environment, in the presence of other children.

    The girl in the photos has been identified as a current student at the school. Investigators then contacted the victim’s mother, who told them she believed the principal’s son (Burkee) was the person who took the photos.

    The mother told investigators that Burkee worked at the school’s daycare center and was a nanny who cared for the victim and her sister at his West Allis residence. Burkee most recently babysat on Nov. 1.

    The West Allis Police Department and the FBI executed a search warrant at Burkee’s home on November 9

    On the morning of November 9, West Allis police and the FBI, after obtaining a warrant, executed a search warrant at Burkee’s home in West Allis.

    Before the search, Burkee told investigators, “I know what I did is wrong, I have to go to the bathroom, I have baby stuff on my phone. Dad, I’m sorry, I have baby stuff on my phone.”

    West Allis police later searched one of Burkee’s cell phones seized during the warrant. It contained several photos of female children in the deleted photo gallery.

    St. Paul’s Lutheran confirmed that Burkee and his father were no longer employed at the school

    In an email to the Journal Sentinel, Jeff Reinhardt, congregational president of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, confirmed that the school was aware of the situation and that, as of Nov. 9, Burkee was no longer an employee of the school.

    “We have been and will continue to cooperate with the West Allis Police Department with their ongoing investigation,” Reinhardt said in the email. “Please understand that our primary focus at this time is to provide our families and students with guidance and support as we navigate this difficult time. Please honor our request and give our Church, School and families the privacy we need to work and focus on healing. together.”

    Reinhardt also confirmed that the principal, Burkee’s father, resigned as principal on Nov. 9.

    Burkee appeared in court on November 13. A cash bond was set at $5,000. He is due back in court on November 21.

    CContact Adrienne Davis at [email protected]. Follow X at @AdriReportss.

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