“Tremendous Disrepute”
License revocation has been accepted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Having reviewed Attorney Westbrook’s petition for consensual revocation and OLR’s recommendation on the petition, we grant Attorney Westbrook’s petition for the revocation of his license to practice law in Wisconsin. As OLR notes in its memorandum in support of the petition, Attorney Westbrook’s distribution of child pornography has brought tremendous disrepute to the legal profession and the courts. The seriousness of Attorney Westbrook’s misconduct demonstrates that it is appropriate to revoke his law license in order to protect the public, the courts, and the legal profession from repetition of his misconduct; to impress upon him the seriousness of his misconduct; and to deter other attorneys from engaging in similar misconduct. Since this matter was resolved without the need to appoint a referee, we assess no costs against Attorney Westbrook.
Post Crescent reported on the conviction
Former Outagamie County Human Resources Director Adam Westbrook was convicted Monday in federal court of distributing child pornography.
Westbrook, 35, pleaded guilty to the charge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
According to a criminal complaint, Westbrook took pornographic videos of a child at a hotel in Lake Delton in January, then sent them to a Racine County sheriff’s deputy.
Westbrook’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Dec. 5, at the federal courthouse in Madison. He faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and life on extended supervision. However, a plea agreement says the defense and prosecuting attorneys will recommend a prison sentence between eight and 12 years.
Prior to his arrest Feb. 16 in Sauk County, Westbrook had been an active member of the Fox Valley community.
In addition to serving as Outagamie County’s HR director, a role he has stepped into in September 2023, Westbrook assisted with school musicals at Menasha Joint School District and Kaukauna Area School District.
After his arrest, he resigned from his role with Outagamie County, and the school districts cut their ties with him.
Westbrook was previously employed as the human resources director for the city of Sheboygan from January 2023 until he resigned in September 2023. In a resignation email, Westbrook said he was stepping down because he experienced “false, defamatory and downright hateful statements and accusations coming from a small group of individuals who seem to relish in conspiracy theories, name calling, and trying as hard as they can to rid the City of anyone who doesn’t look, think, or act like them.”
Before his time with the city of Sheboygan, Westbrook was Neenah’s city attorney from 2018 to 2022.
From WISN ABC on related investigations
Criminal complaints for him and others show authorities found Westbrook while investigating former Racine County Deputy Preston Kite. Kite, 37, is accused of exposing himself inside a Sturtevant gas station while on duty with the Racine County Sheriff’s Department.
Prosecutors say Westbrook and Kite were friends in college. Kite faces 47 charges total, including child sexual exploitation, possession of child pornography and bestiality. 12 News first covered Kite’s arrest back in February.
Prosecutors say Westbrook sent Kite videos of a naked child from a hotel room in the Wisconsin Dells via Snapchat.
While investigating Westbrook’s Snapchat account, detectives say Jacob Boudreau sent photos and videos of child sexual abuse and bestiality to Westbrook. Deputies arrested Jacob Boudreau in March; he is in the Winnebago County jail and faces 12 counts of possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors say they found photos taken at a dog grooming salon he owns named “Show Worthy Salon & Boutique” in Menasha. Detectives also observed additional material involving bestiality between Boudreau and a dog.
While searching Boudreau’s home, investigators found Snapchat communication between Boudreau and his roommate, Noah Thiel. Thiel, a criminal complaint states, admitted to engaging in sexual acts with a dog, recording it and sending it to Boudreau. Thiel is charged with bestiality.
The entire investigation stemmed from prosecutors charging Kite. Kite will be back in court on Sept. 30; a jury trial is set for January.
(Mike Frisch)