By Mark Belling
A federal magistrate has ordered Steven Rezmer be taken into custody pending his sentencing on his federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Rezmer, who ran the umbrella organization that oversaw most youth soccer in Racine County, was taken to a mental health facility after federal prosecutors alleged he contacted witnesses in the case against him and attempted to bribe at least one of them.
The federal motion alleges Rezmer contacted an employee in Missouri of the parent company of Spectrum cable and offered to pay off her mortgage in exchange for cooperating with his attempts to interfere with evidence obtained from Spectrum. Spectrum was Rezmer’s wi-fi provider. He was convicted of using the internet (evidently via Spectrum) to obtain the child porn.
What is bizarre about this is that Rezmer has already pleaded guilty and has been convicted. Een if the witnesses had cooperated with him, it’s to see what good that would have done as he is already convicted.
Rezmer’s attorney, Patrick Cafferty, told Magistrate Judge William Duffin he is concerned about Rezmer’s mental health and said Rezmer’s actions were not rational. The lawyer is asking for a mental examination to determine if Rezmer is competent to participate in further proceedings. He is being held at an undisclosed mental facility following the revocation of his bond.
It is unclear if any of this will delay his sentencing.
Rezmer is one of the highest profile local individuals convicted of child porn but his case has been blacked out by all but one local media. Only the Kenosha County Eye and I have covered the story.
Rezmer ran the group that oversaw all of Racine County’s youth soccer programs. He is one of the best known soccer officials in southeastern Wisconsin. There is no indication any of the porn images had anything to do with area kids in the soccer program.
Rezmer’s wife is a prominent local physician with an organization that provides care at emergency rooms in local Ascension hospitals. Their home in Somers in Kenosha County was raided last year by local and federal authorities who were tipped off to Rezmer’s alleged involvement in child pornography.
He pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain with the Milwaukee US Attorney’s office in May.
According to federal court documents, Rezmer told witnesses he is accused of contacting that he will lose his children. He offered to bribe at least one of them in attempt to save himself. He has been free on bond since his May conviction until recently being taken to a mental health facility. One of the witnesses’ mother was also contacted. Federal prosecutors said the witnesses feared for their safety after being contacted by Rezmer.
Despite the fact that Rezmer is now convicted, and despite his high profile, daily newspapers in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha have chosen to cover the entire story up. It has not been covered by any local TV station. Cases of child porn involving far less prominent individuals are routinely covered by local media but Rezmer’s case has been essentially blacked out.
The Kenosha County Eye first reported on these recent developments. That website and I are the only local media that have reported anything on this now 14-month old story.
Mark Belling
August 1, 2025
