Child pornography charges against drag queen move to federal court

A part-time public school music director who moonlights as a drag queen with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was arrested last week in Wisconsin on child porn charges involving the son he and his husband adopted.

Adam Westbrook was apprehended at his residence in Nennah on four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of possession of child pornography.

The investigation into Westbrook followed the arrest of Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Preston Kite, who was charged with indecent exposure and lewd behavior in a public bathroom earlier this month. 

Detective Moro, who spearheaded the investigation, uncovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Kite’s phone linking him to Westbrook. 

On Snapchat, four explicit videos were sent to Kite by someone with the username “sonofthebat7” and screen name “Adam James.” 

“Adam James” was later identified as Adam James Westbrook, formally known as Adam James Vanden Heuvel. 

According to police documents obtained by The Lion, all four videos were sent on Jan. 27 depicting “a prepubescent male child, with blond hair, on a hotel bed, fully nude.” 

Days before Kite was arrested, he sent Westbrook a YouTube video titled “When cops realize their colleague is a P*do.” 

“I watch sh** like this and I get paranoid,” Kite told Westbrook, according to the police report.  

Westbrook replied, “You’re not trying to meet with random 14 years old, right?”  

Kite responds, “no.”  

Kite is being held at the Kenosha County Jail, charged with possession of child pornography, five counts of child sexual exploitation, lewd and lascivious behavior and disorderly conduct.  

While in prison, Kite called Westbrook’s phone six times between Feb. 4-12. 

On Feb. 16, a search warrant was issued for Westbrook’s home, where the minor in the videos was positively identified as his adopted son.  

“Detective Moro observed the child’s face which identified the prepubescent boy in the CSAM videos observed to be sent by Adam in Snapchat to Kite,” the police report stated. “Information was gathered that the child was VICTIM 1, and he was adopted by Adam and WITNESS 1.” 

Adam Westbrook is married to Michael Westbrook, a schoolteacher in the Menasha Joint School District. According to police records, the couple have two adopted children together. 

Michael told police that his husband and Kite met at Marquette University and communicated frequently. 

Adam Westbrook has served as a part-time director and choreographer for middle and high school musical productions in the Menasha and Kaukauna school district. He also was part of the Brew City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group that parodies catholic nuns. 

Both school districts cut ties with Adam following his arrest.  

“This afternoon we were made aware of pending charges against Adam Westbrook,” Menasha Superintendent Matt Zimmerman told The Post-Crescent. “Adam Westbrook was assigned as an at-will-co-curricular advisor for the Menasha High School musical. 

“We are shocked by the charges. Mr. Adam Westbrook will not be assisting further with the musical.” 

Westbrook’s case was moved Feb. 21 to the U.S. Attorney-Western District of Wisconsin.