Joe Walker of Mammoth Lakes
Joe Walker of Mammoth will appear in Santa Barbara Superior Court Friday for sentencing on charges related to sex crimes involving a Santa Barbara teenager. In March, Walker pled guilty to 5 felony counts out of 21 sex-related charges lodged against him by the Santa Barbara DA. Deputy DA Mary Barron had earlier said that Walker would be sentenced to 5 years in state prison and the requirement that he register for life as a sex offender.
The amended complaint against Walker described a situation over two years in which both he and Dr. Andrew Bourne had sexual relations with a Santa Barbara teenaged girl when she was 14 and 15.
Walker pled guilty to two counts of lewd acts upon a child of 14, one count of unlawful contact with a child with the intent to commit a sex crime, two counts of lewd acts upon a child of 15, oral copulation of a person under 16, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Court documents had also said that Walker encouraged Bourne to have sex with the girl.
Deputy DA Barron had earlier stated that the plea bargain with Walker “spared the victim” from having to testify at trial. Within days of Walker’s plea, the victim and her parents filed a suit against Walker and the estate of Bourne. The civil suit alleges sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress, fraud and deceit, statutory violations, conspiracy, seduction of a minor and violation of mandatory reporting obligations by Dr. Bourne.
The suit alleges that the female victim has suffered “severe emotional distress, with lifelong consequences.” Contacted for an update on this lawsuit, attorney Chris Croes of Santa Barbara, who represents the girl and her parents, said that Walker’s attorney, Sam Eaton, “fell and broke his leg – effectively putting everything on hold for a few weeks.”
Croes said he had hoped to receive written discovery from Eaton, but has received nothing so far.
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He does not deserve to get out in 2-3 let alone 5. I wonder what he faced if he went to trial!
He will not do five years. He will be out in two to two and a half.
Thats how it works.
To think,this guy has lost his freedom for 5 years,his wife is divorcing him,and moving back to Italy with the kids,and once he gets out….IF he survives his 5 years in prison…he’ll be what,54 years old,and ,hopefully scorned where-ever he decides to settle…and then having to pay restitution, and a civil suit for sure,if he’s able to get and hold a job.And having to register as a sex-offender…all for what ?….a” love-triangle” with another old man and a friend of the families 13 or 14 year old daughter ?….WOW !! way to screw your life up there,Joe..Do you get any pity from me ?…nope…
MJA….Are you trying to say just because Walker did “a wrong”,sending him to prison is going to be another “wrong” ? .. Five years in the pen…and around people that don’t like molesters,that alone sends a really big message to others that might be contemplating having an affair with a young teen girl,don’t you think ?….Do you think we should just give him a mulligan on this one ?
Shocked as I am, I have to agree with Wayne on this. This man belongs in prison, both for the victims retribution, and to remove him from the community. Without an outlet for such, this sort of thing would lead swiftly to vengeance killings, that ultimately devolve into feuds. I understand the need for compassion, but I’m reminded of a quote. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing… (Burke is generally credited with this, however a good deal of debate remains).” If there is no punishment for Walker, there is no deterrent to keep him and others of his ilk from this. If nothing else, it gives the victim a few years of peace.
Two wrongs won’t make it right,
For freedom,
=
MJA- this guy is lucky he didn’t go after one of my family remembers-I would show ya what two wrongs would really do.
Sorry about the spelling error 🙂
5 years, he’ll age 10.