Psychiatrist Steven C. Wein gets one year jail for elevator masturbation incident; still faces arson charges

August 5, 2010

A Las Vegas psychiatrist convicted on charges stemming from masturbation in a Strip casino elevator was sentenced to a year in jail Wednesday.

A jury found Dr. Steven C. Wein, 33, guilty of open or gross lewdness, a gross misdemeanor, after a one-day trial in June. The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes before returning the guilty verdict, according to court records.

Wein declined to speak at Wednesday's hearing.

Judge Linda Bell sentenced Wein to the maximum time allowed for a misdemeanor. He was given credit for a 100 days of time served.

Authorities said Wein was riding in a Monte Carlo hotel elevator with three female Arizona State University students about 6 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2009, when he exposed himself in the confined space. Wein then was punched in the head by a man who also was in the elevator, authorities said.

The jury was able to watch the event unfold, as it was recorded by hotel security.

After his jail term is finished in Las Vegas, Wein next will face charges in Arizona stemming from allegations he tried to intimidate witnesses in the case.

Wein is accused of driving to Tempe, Ariz., in April and setting fire to the home of the three women.

The alleged arson occurred five days before a preliminary hearing was to be held in Las Vegas for the November incident.

Wein was in his fourth year of a psychiatry residency at the Las Vegas School of Medicine at the time of the November incident.

Wein's attorney, Mace Yampolsky, said in court documents his client was suffering from depression over the death of his father at the time.

The Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to hold a revocation hearing for Wein's medical license in September. Board executive director Dianna Hegeduis said Wein's license is currently suspended and he is not allowed to practice medicine in the state.

If Wein's license is revoked, he would have to wait a decade before he could reapply for a medical licence in Nevada.

Source: Francis McCabe, "Psychiatrist gets one year in jail for lewd incident at Strip casino," Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 4, 2010.