Union Grove High School Superintendent Thomas William Johnson pleaded not guilty Thursday to two felony counts of possession of child pornography, waiving his preliminary hearing as a court commissioner determined there was enough evidence to move forward to a trial.
The 51-year-old Burlington resident, who has been on unpaid administrative leave since his November 4 arrest, offered no comment as he left the courtroom flanked by supporters. His attorney, Patrick Cafferty, emphasized the presumption of innocence and said the defense is awaiting full discovery materials before presenting its side of the case. “We’re very early in the process,” Cafferty stated.
Johnson remains free after posting a $250,000 cash bond. Court records indicate he faces a no-contact order with minors and restrictions on internet-capable devices. His next court appearance is scheduled for a judicial pretrial on January 4.
The investigation began with an anonymous letter received by the Racine County Sheriff’s Office on October 22. The letter’s author claimed an affair with Johnson and alleged seeing inappropriate messages and images on his phone involving individuals the writer believed were current or former students.
Johnson acknowledged the affair during interviews but denied any inappropriate contact with students.
Racine County investigators interviewed Johnson the following day. He provided his personal and work phones and consented to a review. Investigators described the devices as “suspiciously clean,” noting that social media apps including Snapchat had been deleted or wiped, along with browsing history. The case was referred to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office on October 27.
Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis announced that Thomas William Johnson was formally charged with two felony counts of possession of child pornography in Kenosha County Circuit Court, Case No. 2026CF001581. Each count is a Class D felony carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.
A forensic examination of Johnson’s personal phone identified two images whose digital fingerprints matched known child sexual abuse material in the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children database. There was no indication in the complaint the images involved students.
When shown obscured versions of the images, Johnson acknowledged that one depicted a child, per court records. The school district has named Principal Tom Blair as acting administrator while Johnson remains on unpaid leave.
“Protecting children and holding accountable those involved in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) are priorities of this office. Behind every instance of CSAM is a child who deserves protection and justice. The detectives working this case are among the best, and I commend their thorough investigation and dedication to protecting children,” said District Attorney Xavier Solis.
“The District Attorney’s Office recognizes the investigative work of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office and the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.”
Johnson’s charges remain possession of child pornography rather than grooming. The school district has said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement while prioritizing student safety. Johnson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
