The trial of Steve Weir, former coach and educator at Riverdale Academy, ended on day two, with Weir asking for a plea deal. Weir pleaded guilty to 9 counts of molestation of a Juvenile, 1 count of Extortion, 1 count of Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, and 1 count of Cyberstalking.

He was sentenced to:
23 years on all 9 counts of Molestation
10 years on the Extortion
10 years on the Computer Aided Solicitation
1 year on Cyberstalking,
all to be served concurrently for a total of 23 years, at hard labor, and with no early release.

The abrupt end to a five-year prosecution effort for District Attorney Jones and the Louisiana Sex Crimes Division of the State Attorney’s Office was a triumph. One observer in the room speculated that it was the second witness for the State that sealed the change in plea. “There is no way to prove that he felt love for one girl when another victim is on the stand saying he did this to her as a teenager, too”. The second witness read letters to the jury that Weir wrote to her as a teenager while he was a basketball coach in Kentucky. The letters and her testimony appeared to resonate with the jury and with everyone in the courtroom.

Her testimony came after the testimony of a former detective, who testified that over 7000 text messages and 3000 Yahoo Messenger interactions were identified between Weir and the victim, who was between 14 and 16 years of age at the time of the molestation. He stated that in the summer of 2019, the victim gave her statement. After corroborating her information, a warrant was obtained, and Weir was arrested in Kentucky and brought back to Red River Parish.

Weir has remained incarcerated since 2019 and has retained several lawyers while awaiting trial. Weir, 67 years of age, will remain in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections for the duration of his sentence.

“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.

The victim finished her statement with, “True justice will be served in eternity, but we are getting a taste of earthly justice today”.