William C. Wilber IV Indicted for Child Sex Crimes on Menominee Reservation

William C. Wilber IV, 35, of Suring, Wisconsin, is staring down a federal indictment on three counts of child sex offenses committed on the Menominee Indian Reservation. A federal grand jury returned the charges on February 7, 2017, accusing Wilber of preying on two teenage girls near a family property at Legend Lake in separate encounters spanning 2015 and 2016.

The indictment details a pattern of predatory behavior. Count One alleges Wilber engaged in a sex act with a 14-year-old girl in the spring of 2015. Counts Two and Three charge him with similar acts involving a 15-year-old girl—one in the summer of 2015, the other in the fall of 2016. All charges fall under 18 United States Code, Sections 2243(a) and 1153(a), which criminalize sexual abuse of minors in Indian country.

If convicted on any single count, Wilber faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of 5 years of supervised release, and a $5,000 special assessment. With three counts stacked against him, the consequences could stretch well beyond a decade and a half behind bars, signaling a severe federal response.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, underscoring the gravity of the crimes and the jurisdictional cooperation required in Indian country cases. Tribal authorities were the first on the scene, preserving evidence and initiating interviews before handing key leads to federal agents.

Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier is leading the prosecution, building a case that hinges on forensic evidence, witness statements, and the credibility of the victims. Court records show no prior criminal history for Wilber, but prosecutors are treating this as a high-priority case due to the vulnerability of the victims and the violation of federal trust protections for tribal lands.

An indictment is not a conviction. William C. Wilber IV is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He is entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The Eastern District of Wisconsin, led by U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad, has pledged full transparency as the case moves forward.