GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Eric Dean Wiedmayer, 40, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced to a minimum of 50 years for the sexual abuse of multiple children over a decade.
On February 27, 2025, the Kent County Circuit Court sentenced Wiedmayer to:
25-50 years for three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), with two sentences served consecutively
5-25 years for aggravated child sexually abusive activity
This means he must serve at least 50 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Decade-Long Abuse and Arrest
Authorities say Wiedmayer’s crimes began in 2012 and continued until his April 2023 arrest in the Rockford area. His arrest followed an investigation into reports of sexual abuse involving multiple children.
To protect the victims’ identities, their ages and genders have not been disclosed.
Wiedmayer pleaded guilty in September 2024 to three counts of first-degree CSC and one count of aggravated child sexually abusive activity.
Courtroom Statements
During sentencing, Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Bartlett called Wiedmayer a “monster” and emphasized the severe harm he inflicted on the victims.
“The amount of damage he’s done to these children is insurmountable,” Bartlett stated.
In court, Wiedmayer read from a handwritten letter, acknowledging his actions but never apologizing to his victims. He admitted to betraying the trust of many and spoke about his addiction to pornography while citing Bible verses.
Judge’s Ruling
Judge Scott Noto reviewed victim impact statements before sentencing Wiedmayer, stating that the severity of his crimes against children warranted consecutive sentences.
Wiedmayer will serve his time in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with little chance of release.
