Former Utah educator sentenced in two more sex-abuse cases

A former educator already sentenced to up to life in prison for sexually abusing a teen boy received two more prison sentences recently for similar crimes.

Last May, Charles Edward Weber, 67, was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of first-degree felony sodomy.

The former Soldier Hollow Charter School principal admitted that he had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy between January and April of 2012. The teen was formerly a student at the charter school.

Since the May sentencing, the former educator has been charged in two other sex crime cases.

In Wasatch County's 4th District Court, he was charged in July with six counts of second-degree felony forcible sex abuse in connection with an male adult victim. On Feb. 26, he took a plea deal and pleaded no contest to one count of attempted forcible sex abuse, a third-degree felony. He was immediately sentenced to a zero to five year prison term, ordered to run consecutive to his previous sentence.

Weber admits in court documents that after the adult victim allegedly stole a computer, he threatened to call police if the victim did not touch his genitals. He also admitted to touching the male victim's genitals.

Deputy Wasatch County Attorney McKay King said Friday that Weber knew the victim outside of his position as an educator.

In West Jordan's 3rd District Court, Weber was charged in November with three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, accused of having sexual contact with a 14- or 15-year-old boy at his home. In January, Weber pleaded guilty to one of the charges, and the other two were dismissed. He was sentenced to another zero to five years prison sentence — also ordered to run consecutive to his previous prison sentence.

Court papers say authorities launched their initial investigation in 2012 after a 48-year-old man contacted police to report he had been sexually abused by Weber between 1975 and 1977. The man, who is not identified in court papers, was then 11 years old and a student in Weber's class, court papers said. But charges were not filed in the decades-old case because the statute of limitations had expired.

King said the latest case filed in Wasatch County was part of that investigation.

King has said that Weber groomed dozens of students throughout his career, but it is unknown how many of those interactions rose to a criminal level. He said Friday that they are aware of other alleged victims besides the three that brought formal charges against Weber, but it is unlikely that any further charges will be filed in Wasatch County.

"There were victims who chose not to pursue charges based on [Weber's] sentence," King said. "...We're glad that people came forward and made sure that Mr. Weber received justice."

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller