Gymnastics Studio Owner Recorded Children Using Bathroom: Report

RACINE COUNTY, WI — The owner of a gymnastics studio in Racine County has been arrested after sheriff's officials say he was caught recording children using the bathroom in his studio. Authorities also found multiple child pornography images on his computer during the search.

On March 13 the Town of Norway Police Department received a call from an employee at Wind Lake Gymnastics reporting that a hidden camera was found in the bathroom. The Racine County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau responded and conducted a search at Wind Lake Gymnastic Center.

During the search, multiple surveillance cameras and computers were seized as evidence. The
owner and coach of Wind Lake Gymnastic Center was identified as James Kivisto, age 49. A search of the
computers recovered at Wind Lake Gymnastic Center, revealed multiple images of Child Pornography.
Kivisto has owned and operated Wind Lake Gymnastic Center for approximately the past 11
years, and has coached gymnastics since 1987 in both Racine County and Milwaukee County.

James Kivisto admits that he has recorded children while changing in the bathroom at Wind Lake
Gymnastic Center on multiple occasions. Kivisto is in custody at the Racine County Jail and is being held on multiple counts of Possession of Child Pornography. As the investigation progresses, additional charges will be recommended to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office, authorities said.

Authorities in Racine County say this investigation is ongoing and the process of conducting forensic searches on computers is very labor intensive.

Racine County Sheriff's officials say if any members of the public have any additional information about Kivisto, to please contact the Racine County Sheriff’s Office at 262-636- 3990. This number has been established specifically for information reference this case. If you have a child that attends Wind Lake Gymnastic Center, you are encouraged to call and speak with an Investigator.

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