Santa Barbara Courthouse
Another delay in the case of Joe Walker of Mammoth Lakes involving alleged sex crimes against a Santa Barbara teenager.
According to the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office, Walker’s hearing on Friday was moved to March 9. Court officials expect to set a preliminary hearing date when they meet for that hearing in March.
Walker faces charges of illegally contacting a child with the intent to commit a sex crime on six different occasions. He is also accused of committing a lewd act on a child.
According to Noozhawk.com, a Santa Barbara news outlet, the Santa Barbara DA’s office is expected to soon file an amended complaint that eliminates Dr. Andrew Bourne from this case and possibly adds more counts against Walker. Santa Barbara DA Joyce Dudley told Sierra Wave she is waiting on Bourne’s death certificate. When we spoke with her last week, DA Dudley said her office is “still considering” additional charges against Walker.
Reports in Santa Barbara and Mammoth Lakes have stated that Walker and Bourne owned part-time homes in Santa Barbara and were friends of the alleged victim’s family.
Santa Barbara Police had said at the time of the arrest of Walker and Bourne that the victim’s parents had found suspicious emails. Police began an investigation in September of 2011 and made their arrests January 4th.
Discover more from Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News - The Community's News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Ok am i the only cynic here? , am i the only one that feels that the DA is reserving the right to dismiss charges pending a authentic Death certificate. This may be a legal requirement however it seems a bit strange. If the death was a scam I would think the persons involved would be a greater crime then that of anything the Dr, was accused of. That would be everyone involved in a fraud. The Sheriff , Police dept. the coroner, the mono DA, the hospital , Dr Karch.
Common, the guy is gone for two weeks now.They has wonderful memorial ,Let it go. Dismiss the darn thing. This seems to be reminisces of Obamas Birth certificate. What delusion is this DA living in. Girl get a life. This DA needs to be removed.
Possession of a death certificate is most probably a requirement in the system and nothing more.
Benett Kessler
That is most likely a viable excuse. it is just silly. in my opinion.
I will be willing to bet anyone this case will not see a courtroom trial with a seated jury before the year 2014..at the earliest.There is gonna be delay,delay,delay,then a change of venue,then more delays brought on by the defense…