Muskogee, Oklahoma – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma has announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, a 19-year-old resident of Muskogee, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison. Wiedel was convicted on 12 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. The sentences will run concurrently, and he will also face a lifetime term of supervised release.
The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office. Wiedel pleaded guilty on September 9, 2024, to twelve counts as part of a Superseding Indictment. He admitted to sexually abusing four children under the age of twelve while working as a teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Muskogee from August 2022 through February 2024. These offenses took place within Muskogee County, inside the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation.
FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater stated, “The defendant used his position of trust as a teacher’s assistant to prey on the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society.” He emphasized that safeguarding children and families is among the FBI's top priorities.
U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson remarked, “Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of federal prosecutors and local and federal law enforcement to seek justice for victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions.” He reiterated that protecting children and ensuring community safety remain firm commitments.
Chief U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Wiedel will stay in custody with the U.S. Marshals Service until he is transported to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States in this case.
