Correction Officer Who Sexually Abused Boys Sentenced: Court Docs

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A Suffolk County correction officer charged with sex abuse and illegal possession of firearms was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in December, according to online court records. Robert Weis, 56, of Hampton Bays was sentenced to five years in jail, according to the Long Island Press — and one of the survivors said the term was too lenient.

“The sentence itself is absolutely disgusting,” Michael Neary, told the Press. “He stole our childhoods … I can never forget, never forgive.”

Weis, represented by attorney James O'Shea of Southampton, initially pleaded not guilty. He later pleaded guilty Dec. 9, online court records showed.

In 1996, Weis befriended a 7-year-old boy and sexually abused him from age 7 to 16, engaging in "touching" and sodomy, Assistant District Attorney Laurie Moroff said.

The boy, who is now 29, did not report the abuse until March 2019 when he came forward to the Southampton Town Police Department.

"There are still parts of this investigation that need to be examined, such as his motive in stockpiling a large amount of armament, but most concerning to us is the possibility of other victims," Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said at the time. "Because of his history, including other allegations of sexual abuse, and the fact that he had access to so many vulnerable people, it certainly gives rise to concern that this victim might not be his only victim."

Later in April, Weis was charged with sexually abusing a second child, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

"This is the sort of defendant we wish we never had to deal with," Sini said. "The crimes that he is alleged to have committed undoubtedly destroyed lives. We will continue to investigate his conduct and do everything in our power to bring justice to those victims."

An investigation by police and prosecutors began in March 2019 when the man told police Weis sexually abused him. Weis was arrested by the Southampton Town Police Department in April 2019 and a search warrant was executed at his house, Sini said.

After being alerted to Weis' arrest through news coverage, a second man told police Weis sexually abused him when he was under 13 years old, prosecutors said. Weis was also arrested in South Carolina in 2016 and charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy. Those charges are pending.

Weis is the adoptive parent of five males and has been a foster parent for approximately 15 years, Sini said.

The search warrant executed at Weis' residence last year resulted in the seizure of three handguns, which he possessed illegally, as well as 32 rifles and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition, Sini said. Police also recovered stolen property belonging to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, including bulletproof vests and EMT equipment, Sini said. Following his arrest in 2016, Weis was placed on modified duty working as a quartermaster for the sheriff's office, with access to the office's uniforms, gear and other official property, Sini said.

Weis was arraigned on the indictment in April 2019 by Acting Suffolk County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis; bail was set at $5 million cash or $15 million bond, Sini said.

Weis had faced a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, Sini said.

Skrynecki said the boys Weis adopted or fostered "came typically from broken homes or were mentally challenged individuals — very vulnerable."

Moroff added that other young boys, including childhood friends of the man who came forward and his older brother, reported sleepovers in Weis' basement with "sexual abuse;" those accusations are being investigated, she said.

Weis' five adopted boys are now aged 19 to 26; he was a foster parent to others, all boys, she said.

When he was arrested, Weis had a 12-year old boy in the car, Moroff said. He was found with three handguns; forensic analysis on his electronics is ongoing, she said, adding that DVDs, including possible pornography, were found in the basement, including one labeled, "Age is just a number."

O'Shea said Weis has been employed as a correction officer for 30 years and owns his own home; he served in Iraq, as a member of the Army Reserves, and the National Guard. In April, he had four of his four adopted young men living at his home but none had filed a complaint, O'Shea said."

"This is an individual who routinely abused his position of power, in both his official capacity as a correction officer and as an adult who was an authority figure for children," Sini said. "He violated the trust placed in him by those close to him, both professionally and personally. At this time, we are investigating other possible instances of abuse by this defendant and believe there could be more victims."