Lester Weber is accused of stealing items from Mariners' Museum in Newport News and selling them on eBay. The former chief archivist for The Mariners' Museum made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday on charges that he stole $160,000 worth of museum property and sold it on eBay.
Lester Weber worked at the museum from 2000 to 2006, rising from archivist to head of archives, where he oversaw a variety of nautical materials. He was dismissed after museum officials accused him of stealing museum pieces and selling them online. The museum filed a $1.35 million civil suit against him in April 2007.
Details may be found at http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/newport_news/dp-local_museumtheft_0220.1feb20,0,6066295.story.
This is a sad story for me personally, because I have personally had the good fortune of using the resources at the Mariner's Museum to help document and write the story of our family's immigrant ancestors. During the 10 or so years that I have been visiting the museum, I always found the staff extremely knowledgeable and helpful in my research projects. The collections there, especially on ships' history, are very expansive and enable a researcher to firmly document one's work. I hope that the museum is able to recover the stolen items and add them back into their magnificent collection.
Posted by: Greg | February 22, 2008 at 07:37 AM
I myself like others have contacted the Mariners Museum about the vessal that brought my Grandparents from Germany/poland to the United States. They have been very helpful,and a BIG SHAME,SHAME on Mr. Lester Weber for stealing very important artifacts.
Posted by: Josephine Welsch | February 23, 2008 at 09:44 AM
I'm wondering what has happened to the concept of innocent until proven guilty?
Posted by: Justice | April 30, 2008 at 10:34 PM