Correction: Albert Lea man accused of child rape pleads guilty
Photo illustration: courts and crime / MGN
(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: An Albert Lea man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child beginning at age 8 or 9 pleaded guilty on what would have been the first day of his criminal sexual conduct trial.
Jeffrey Weir, 54, pleaded guilty to one amended count of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct-under 16-multiple acts.
Weir was originally charged with three counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, which have a presumptive sentence of 144 months, or 12 years of prison time, if convicted.
According to Weir’s plea agreement, the agreed-upon sentence for Weir is 130 months, or about just under 11 years.
According to Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen, Weir will also receive 10 years of conditional release after his sentence.
Nelsen said if Weir violates the conditions of his release within the 10 years, he can be re-arrested.
ABC 6 News previously reported that Weir had requested his entire sentence be continued, or deferred to probation.
Weir’s sentencing is scheduled for March 31.
According to court documents, Weir, is registered predatory offender from a 1998 sexual offense against a minor in Wisconsin, and was later convicted of possessing child pornography.
Weir was charged in Mower County Court with three counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, including penetration, of a child under 13.
Weir originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2019, then entered a guilty plea in June of 2022 in the hopes of receiving a 90-month sentence in exchange for a guilty plea of an amended charge of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct.
His defense demanded a jury trial after the original plea was not accepted.
(ABC 6 News) – Mower County Court scheduled a trial for an Albert Lea man accused of repeatedly raping a child between 2015 and 2019.
Jeffrey Weir, now 54, was accused in March 2019 of raping the child between ages 8 and 9 when both were staying in Austin.
According to court documents, Weir, is registered predatory offender from a 1998 sexual offense against a minor in Wisconsin, and was later convicted of possessing child pornography.
Weir was charged in Mower County Court with three counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, including penetration, of a child under 13.
Weir originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2019, then entered a guilty plea in June of 2022 in the hopes of receiving a 90-month sentence in exchange for a guilty plea of an amended charge of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct.
However, Weir’s counsel entered a demand for a jury trial in October of this year.
Weir is scheduled to appear for a pretrial on Jan. 26, 2023 and his trial is scheduled for Feb. 6-10, 2023.