Lemhi County man sentenced to 40 years for lewd conduct with minors

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — A Lemhi County man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison following a two-year investigation into decades of child sexual abuse, the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday night.

District Judge Michael Whyte ordered William Wegner, who was charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor under the age of 16, to serve a unified 40-year sentence, consisting of 20 years fixed (mandatory) time followed by 20 years indeterminate.

The investigation into Wegner began in August 2024 when Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report from an Ashton mother and her 15-year-old daughter. According to court documents, the teen told investigators that Wegner had been inappropriately touching her for three years.

Wegner was ultimately charged with four counts of violating Idaho Code § 18-1508. He later entered an Alford plea to two of the four charges - a formal plea agreement where the defendant maintains his innocence, but admits the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction.

Following the sentencing, the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office expressed gratitude to their law enforcement partners, prosecutors in Lemhi and Fremont County, and the victims who participated in the trial.

"We also wish to recognize the courage and resilience demonstrated by the victims throughout the investigation and criminal proceedings," stated the Sheriff's office in a news release. Their willingness to come forward and participate in the judicial process was instrumental in bringing this case to its conclusion."