Former Basketball SA umpire Nathan Wieland confesses to child sex charges

This man was awarded umpire of the year in 2014. Now he’s in prison after confessing to horrific acts with teen boys.

A former NBL and WNBL referee who spent years as a decorated volunteer with Basketball SA Adelaide groomed and abused teenage boys over a significant period.

Now, Nathan Aaron Wieland, 46 of Ingle Farm, has confessed to his crimes against children, which spanned across years and locations in Adelaide.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, Stephen Ey, for Wieland, told Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal his client would be admitting to some of the charges.

“Mr Wieland has signed the information and will plead guilty to various counts,” Mr Ey said.

Basketball SA volunteer and former NBL referee Nathan Wieland confessed to child grooming and child abuse offences. Picture: Facebook.

He will remain in custody before his next hearing in September. Picture: Facebook.

Wieland, who was crowned 2014 referee of the year by the Central Australia Basketball League, now known as NBL One Central, was arrested and charged with multiple child sexual abuse crimes in July 2023.

Around the time of his arrest, Basketball SA chief executive Tim Brenton wrote to parents informing them the volunteer had been stood down.

Mr Brenton said SA Police had advised there was “no information at this time that sexual offending occurred against persons associated with Basketball SA”.

Wieland has remained in custody since his arrest, as prosecutors added more charges to his file when new offending came to light.

Chief Magistrate Hribal on Tuesday read out the dates and charges of his offending, which took place in suburbs including Woodville and Ingle Farm, to which he replied “correct”.

“Through your written plea you’ve indicated you pleaded guilty to count 29, which relates to communicating with the intention procuring under the age of 17 on the June 21, 2022?” she asked.

“Correct,” he said.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to charges that occurred between 2021-2023.

“You’ve pleaded guilty to count 32 which is an unlawful sexual intercourse charge between the dates of 21 September 2020 to 30th of November 2021?”

“Correct,” he said.

All up, Wieland pleaded guilty to six counts of procuring a child for sexual activity, seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 17 and one count of adult, sexual abuse of a child.

Prosecutors then withdrew a further 20 charges on top of 28 that were withdrawn at a previous hearing.

Chief Magistrate Hribal remanded Wieland in custody to face the District Court in September before sentencing submissions at a later date.