Former juvenile court judge pleads guilty to federal child porn charges
Former Judge Brett Blomme of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Mug shot from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin.
A Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, juvenile court judge pleaded guilty Tuesday to two federal charges of distributing child pornography.
The guilty plea also resolves state charges against the judge, 39-year-old Brett Blomme, report the Wisconsin State Journal and the Associated Press. Blomme had been charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography in Wisconsin.
The two federal charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of five years in prison and maximum sentences of 20 years in prison. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the plea agreement and advisory sentencing guidelines “all but rule out” the maximum sentence.
Minimum five-year sentences could run concurrently because they stem from the same criminal activity, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
The federal indictment alleged that Blomme twice sent files containing an image of child pornography to another user of the Kik Messenger app last fall. The state charges had alleged that Blomme uploaded apparent child pornography 27 times.
Blomme, who was elected last year, resigned from his judgeship Sept. 1. He had been suspended without pay since March.
Blomme and his husband have two adopted children, but there is no indication that they were depicted in the images. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Elgersma said in court Tuesday two children depicted in images serving as the basis for federal charges were known child-exploitation victims, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
State Courts Director Randy Koschnick is seeking permission to speak as a victim at Blomme’s sentencing hearing. In a letter provided to the Wisconsin State Journal, he said media reports on the case “have tarnished the reputation of the judiciary and the sanctity of the court system.”
Sentencing is set for Dec. 22.
Blomme’s attorney, Chris Van Wagner, told the Associated Press last month that Bloome is “ashamed and embarrassed” by his conduct.
“He wants people to forgive him, which isn’t easy,” Van Wagner said. “He just asks that people remember that nobody is as bad as their worst decision or as good as their greatest victory.”
