WCSO NEWS — Reno resident Ronald Wenker was sentenced to serve three life terms in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Sexual Assault and one count of Lewdness with a Minor Under the Age of 14 based on an investigation initiated by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2012.
Wenker, a former Director of the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, pleaded guilty to all three charges in the 2nd Judicial District Court of Nevada on February 21, 2013 and was sentenced on May 14. Wenker could be eligible for parole after 30 years.
On August 7, 2012, investigators from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wenker on multiple charges of Sexual Assault and Lewdness with a Child under the age of 14. It’s believed the sexual abuse occurred multiple times over several years.
The Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation on Monday, August 6, 2012 at approximately 10:47 p.m., when they were dispatched to an undisclosed residence in Washoe County. Sheriff’s Detectives were called out to continue the investigation. The victim advised Detectives that she had been inappropriately touched by a relative over the course of 5 years. The victim identified Wenker as the relative.
After detectives corroborated what the victim had told them pertaining to Wenker’s acts, Wenker was taken into custody and charged.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that sexual abuse can occur over many years and is often easily concealed or committed by individuals close to the victim. Sexual abuse cases are among the most difficult to investigate as they often require the victim to come forward and disclose the abuse.
