Coushatta, Louisiana - The trial of Steve Weir, a former coach and educator at Riverdale Academy in Coushatta, Louisiana, concluded on the third day when Weir requested a plea bargain.
The sudden halt to a five-year legal case led by District Attorney Jones and the Louisiana Attorney General's Office was seen as a success for the residents of Red River Parish.
A former detective stated that they found more than 5,500 text messages and 7,000 Yahoo Messenger exchanges between Weir and the victim when she was 14 to 16 years old. The victim eventually gave her statement in the summer of 2019, leading to a warrant being issued for Weir's arrest in Kentucky. He was then brought back to Red River Parish.
Weir pleaded guilty to 9 charges of molestation of a Juvenile, 1 charge of Extortion, 1 charge of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, and 1 charge of Cyberstalking.
He received a 23-year prison sentence for all nine charges of molestation.
He will serve a total of 23 years in prison at hard labor, without the possibility of early release, for charges of Extortion, Computer Aided Solicitation, and Cyberstalking.
Weir has been in prison since 2019 and has hired multiple attorneys as he awaits trial. The 67-year-old will stay in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections until his sentence is completed.
“Assistant Attorneys General Erica McLellan and Barry Milligan assisted the District Attorney’s Office with this prosecution, to ensure justice was served for the victim and the Coushatta community. We are pleased with the outcome and will continue to protect our people from those who prey on children,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
“The District Attorney’s Office appreciates the effort and hard work of the Attorney General’s Office in this case. Their assistance was invaluable and led to a just outcome for the victim and her family, and ensures protection for our community from such a predator in the future,” District Attorney Jones stated.