Walker Appointee Kavanaugh Gets Up To Four Years In Prison

Former Scott Walker appointee Kevin Kavanaugh has been sentenced to up to four years in prison. Earlier this fall, a jury found Kavanaugh guilty of stealing about $50,000 from a veterans group. It’s the latest courtroom action stemming from the John Doe probe in Milwaukee.

As Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker appointed Kavanaugh to the county’s Veterans Service Commission, and Walker turned over operation of a veterans fundraiser to a veterans group Kavanaugh helped run. But prosecutors say Kavanaugh skimmed more than $50,000 in donations meant for veterans and their families. At the sentencing, Kavanaugh’s lawyer portrayed his client as a Vietnam veteran, who suffers from a stress disorder, alcoholism and other illnesses. But Circuit Judge Michael Guolee said Kavanaugh stole from heroes, “The evidence shows you were stealing from our heroes.”

Kavanaugh’s lawyer requested his client be put on probation, claiming Kavanaugh used some of the money he skimmed to hand cash to veterans in need. But Guolee said that didn’t amount to $50,000, and noted Kavanaugh never explained where the money went, “What happened to that money, that’s the trust that was violated.”

Guolee sentenced the 62 year-old Kavanaugh to two years in prison, plus two years extended supervision, and ordered restitution of $51,000. Kavauagh was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.