Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 18, 2017, William Wilber IV (age: 35) of Shawano, Wisconsin, was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 10 years of imprisonment, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. The sentence was the result of guilty pleas by Wilber on April 6, 2017 to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under the Age of 16.
The investigation revealed that in May 2015, Wilber, engaged in a sex act with a then-13- year old girl at a location outside Keshena near Legend Lake on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Further investigation revealed that on or about July 4, 2016, Wilber engaged in a sex act with a then-14-year old girl near the same location. Law enforcement officials interviewed Wilber, who admitted sexually assaulting the victims. Additional investigation and interviews revealed several other occasions where Wilber took sexually inappropriate actions toward underage girls.
In sentencing Wilber, Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach pointed out the history of similar conduct by the defendant “preying” on underage girls. Chief Judge Griesbach referred to the defendant’s use of alcohol as a tool to overcome the resistance of the juvenile victims, and as a method by which the defendant rationalized his behavior. Chief Judge Griesbach noted the impact the defendant’s actions had on the victims, as well as a juvenile relative of the defendant who was present during some of the assaults. The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with significant assistance from the Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center in Green Bay.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier.
