United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Spearfish, South Dakota, man convicted of five counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor following a week-long jury trial in September 2019 in Rapid City, South Dakota, was sentenced on February 10, 2020, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Stanley Patrick Weber, age 71, was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences in federal prison for the five Aggravated Sexual Abuse charges, and 15 years on each of the three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.  All of these sentences are to be served consecutively to each other, and also consecutive to his previous sentence in the District of Montana of 18 years in federal prison.  Weber was also ordered to pay $800,000 in criminal fines and an $800 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Evidence at trial established that Weber, while employed as a pediatrician with the Indian Health Service at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, sexually abused multiple Native American children between 1999 and 2011.

“The district court’s sentence ensures that Stanley Patrick Weber will never roam free again and his remaining days will be spent behind concrete and steel in a federal prison cell,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “Our focus today is on the courage and dignity of Weber’s victims, the men who stared down their worst nightmare to come forward and testify about the horrible abuse by him they suffered when they were boys.  Their bravery brought this predator to justice.  They have our gratitude, and our hope is that the finality of this sentence will bring them some measure of peace.  Now, as one nation, one community, and one family, we must come together and do everything in our power to ensure that nothing like this can ever be done to any of our precious children again.”

“As a pediatrician, Dr. Weber took advantage of Native American children enrolled with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Blackfeet Nation, and betrayed their innocent trust in him.  The sentencing of Dr. Weber today sends a strong and powerful message that those who sexually abuse children will be held accountable and that we will continue to seek justice for all victims of our programs,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “We will continue working with our State, Federal, and Tribal law enforcement partners as we investigate and seek justice against those who would victimize our programs and their beneficiaries.”

The investigation was conducted by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Rapid City Police Department, and the Spearfish Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Eric Kelderman prosecuted and tried the case.  

Weber was immediately remanded back to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

RAPID CITY, SD – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Stanley Patrick Weber, age 70, of Spearfish, South Dakota, was found guilty by a federal jury of 5 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and 3 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor following a week-long  jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Aggravated Sexual Abuse carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 30 years up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sexual abuse of a minor carries a penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.

Evidence at trial established that Weber, while employed as a pediatrician with the Indian Health Services at Pine Ridge, sexually abused minors between 1999 and 2011.

“This defendant is the worst kind of sexual predator: a person placed in a position of trust – a pediatrician – who abused that position to rape and sexually assault the children entrusted to his care,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “I want to commend the courage and bravery of the men who came forward to testify about what happened to them as boys.  I know that the jury’s unanimous verdict has brought them some measure of justice.  I hope that it will bring them some measure of peace.  Let us never forget that with the justice granted by these convictions comes an obligation shared by us all.  We must resolve to do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again to any of our children in any of our communities.”

This case was investigated by the United States Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services.  Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Eric Kelderman prosecuted and tried the case.  A sentencing date is set for February 10, 2020.  Weber was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Walthill, Nebraska, woman convicted of False Statement was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Wehnona Stabler, age 60, was sentenced on June 29, 2018, to12 months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Stabler was charged on June 20, 2017.  The conviction stems from Stabler making a false statement in January 2014 on a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, while an employee of Indian Health Service at Pine Ridge, related to a $5,000 payment she received from Dr. Stanley Patrick Weber.  Weber is currently under indictment for multiple counts of sex abuse with minors arising when he was a pediatrician at IHS Pine Ridge.  

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Inspector General, Health and Human Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Walthill, Nebraska, woman was charged in federal district court with False Statement.

Wehnona Stabler, age 59, was charged on June 20, 2017. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on July 21, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Stabler making a false statement in January 2014 on a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report while an employee of Indian Health Service (IHS) at Pine Ridge, related to a $5,000 payment she received from Dr. Stanley Patrick Weber. Weber is currently under indictment for multiple counts of sex abuse with minors arising when he was a pediatrician at IHS Pine Ridge.

The charge is merely an accusation and Stabler is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Inspector General, Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.

Stabler was released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Spearfish, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

Stanley Patrick Weber, age 68, was indicted on February 22, 2017, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 1, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Weber sexually abusing minors between 1999 and 2011 while employed as a physician with Indian Health Services at Pine Ridge. The charges are merely an accusation and Weber is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Spearfish Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.

Weber was released pending trial. A trial date has been scheduled for May 9, 2017.