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WHEELING - A disgraced former Wheeling police officer was sentenced to spend more than a quarter-century behind bars Monday morning for molesting a child.
Jonathan Q. Wiles appeared in court Monday morning and pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian and one count of incest. The first two counts each carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years, while the third carries a sentence of 5 to 15 years. Judge Michael Olejasz ruled that the sentences run consecutively, for an effective sentence of 25 to 55 years in prison.
Once released from prison, court officials said, Wiles will spend 20 years under supervised probation as well as registering as a sex offender for life.
Wiles was a member of the Wheeling Police Department when he was arrested Dec. 6 after a 9-year-old child left a note that was found by guardians, saying that she had been raped by Wiles. Shortly after his arrest, Wiles was fired from his position with the police department, a position he had held since 2018. The note was taken to West Virginia State Police, to whom Wiles confessed. He was indicted in January on 12 counts.
The state's case against Wiles was led by Brooke County prosecutor Joseph Barki. Wiles was represented by attorney Don Tennant. Barki was not immediately available for comment Monday.