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Froedtert terminates employee facing 47 felony charges tied to alleged hidden cameras at hospital

July 31, 2023 – West Bend, WI – Froedtert Hospital in the Town of Polk, WI has acknowledged terminating Steven J. Weis, 45, of West Bend, Wi, who is facing 47 felony charges tied to allegations of hidden cameras at the hospital along with an array of other incidents. WARNING, contents in this story are graphic.
Steven Weis
An email from Froedtert’s Nalissa Wienke reads,
“We are aware of the situation and have terminated the staff member in question. We are working with local law enforcement to identify possible victims and provide resources to help them heal. Because this is an active investigation, all other inquiries should be directed to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.”
Charges against Weis, who appeared before Judge Ryan Hetzel in Washington County Circuit court on Monday morning, include allegedly exposing himself to a child and capturing unlawful images on a hidden camera mounted underneath a bathroom sink at Froedtert West Bend Hospital in the Town of Polk.

The graphic 21-page criminal complaint offers details behind the 47 felony charges including allegedly tampering with a coworker’s food, allegedly accessing coworker’s profiles, and allegedly keeping items after women had exited the bathroom and storing them in a safe.

WARNING: Contents are extremely graphic

You may choose to click HERE to read the 21-page criminal complaint

 

The Washington County Sheriff said Weis admitted to investigators he had been placing the camera inside the same bathroom for the past several months and then saving some of the captured footage.

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Some of the charges involving children date to November 2022.

During today’s court appearance the State indicated “there are more victims that Washington County Sheriff’s Office is in process to identify.”

Court requests the State file a list of victims and will be sealed.

The initial cash bond of $50,000 was increased to $100,000.00 cash bond.

The next hearing for Weis is scheduled for August 3, 2023, at 08:45 a.m. in Washington County Circuit Court.

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This case came to light on Friday afternoon, July 14, 2023, after investigators with the City of West Bend Police Department uncovered information during an unrelated investigation and immediately communicated the information to investigators at the Sheriff’s Office.

Washington County investigators responded to the hospital and located the hidden camera underneath the sink. The bathroom in question is a public restroom, but mainly utilized by staff.

The suspect appeared in Washington County Circuit Court on July y17, 2023, for a bail hearing.

Judge Hetzel found probable cause that a felony was committed and set bond at $50,000 cash and ordered him to have no contact with Froedtert or any of their employees.

The judge gave the state more time to file formal criminal charges. In Wisconsin, it is a felony to capture an image depicting nudity without the person’s consent.

Based on the amount of data that needs to be analyzed, and the number of potential victims, investigators needed additional time before specific formal charges were sent to the district attorney for review.

The Washington County Sheriff is working in partnership with the West Bend Police Department to hold the individual accountable and treat the victims with respect and dignity. According to the Sheriff these allegations are deeply disturbing. The Sheriff’s Office said it is “committed to working as efficiently as possible to provide answers to those that may have been victimized in a timely manner.”

This is a working story and more information will be posted when details are available.

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1 COMMENT

  1. This article stated that this had been going on for the past several months. People need to realize that he has been taking photos of people for at least the past 10 years, not all indecent, but those of young children walking near his neighborhood I believe there are hundreds of victims. Although WI law may not consider them a victim due to no indecent photos.

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