Robert Samuel Wheeland - Sentencing
Judge Thygesen followed the jury's recommendation of 15 years on each count to be served consecutively and sentenced Wheeland to a total of 45 years in prison.
Under current Oklahoma law, Wheeland will be required to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence, which is over 38 years, before the 54-year-old felon becomes eligible for parole.
Following Wheeland's sentencing the victim's parents and the parents of three other girls who have made similar accusations against Wheeland expressed approval of the sentence and vowed to continue efforts to see justice served for alleged offenses against the other girls.
Currently another trial for Wheeland on charges alleging the sexual abuse of the three other girls is set for June of this year. Investigators have indicated that statements made by a fifth girl may result in additional charges against Wheeland.
Commentary and Opinion
Judge Thygesen's relating Wheeland's breach of trust to that of Benedict Arnold is both very fitting and revealing. We as a society intrust our police officers to not only uphold the law but to also abide by the law.
The jury found Robert Samuel Wheeland to have not only sexually abused a child, it also figuratively found him to have abused the trust society placed in him. In this regard, Wheeland is a traitor to not only society in general but to his fellow law enforcement officers in particular.
Those that sexually abuse children are among the most evil dregs of our society. We have every right to be outraged at all child rapists but when those sworn to uphold the law, to protect and to serve are themselves sexual predators that prey upon children we have and even greater cause for outrage.
Is 45 years a proper punishment for the crimes of which Robert Samuel Wheeland stands convicted? Personally I would say "yes", only if the guilty was required to spend his prison term in the "general population" of the prison.
Reality is, that like most former police officers sentenced to prison, Wheeland will likely serve his term in "segregation", another name for protective custody, and possibly in another state; this for his own protection.
Otherwise Wheeland just might come to know the pain, suffering, fear, intimidation and humiliation he inflicted upon his victim. And unfortunately we as a society do not wish to impose that upon anyone, even the likes of Robert Samuel Wheeland
Or do we?
