In November of last year, 26-year-old Adam J. Walker pleaded no contest to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against someone age 13 through 15, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Walker was initially charged with three counts of first-degree CSC during the commission of a felony; he was also charged with two other felonies related to injuries his grandmother suffered when he attempted to steal her vehicle. Those charges were also dropped by prosecutors in exchange for the plea.
As Walker sat in jail following the incident in which his grandmother’s foot was broken as he stole his grandparents’ vehicle, prosecutors charged Walker with three counts of first-degree CSC during the commission of a felony, one count of assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. The warrant alleged that the victim was 13 years old, and that Walker delivered a controlled substance although news reports do not reveal what the drug was.
Walker claimed at his May 2014 arraignment hearing that he did not know anyone with the last name listed on the warrant, which is the name used to identify the alleged victim. He also stressed at his arraignment the fact that he was married.
Ultimately, after Walker pleaded no contest to the three third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, Saginaw County Circuit Judge James T. Borchard to eight years and 10 months to 22 years and six months in prison. He was given credit for more than one year served (386 days). Walker will serve seven-plus years in prison, which was one year less than prosecutors hoped he would serve.
Had walker pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and been found guilty, he would have potentially faced life in prison. In cases involving victims who are younger than 13, the mandatory minimum prison term is 25 years. Additionally, anyone convicted of first-degree CSC will be required to register as a sex offender for life. Compared to potential life in prison, a seven-plus year prison term may not seem so bad.
If you have been accused of sexual assault, child molestation, Internet sex crimes, or any related crime, there may be legal options that will help mitigate the damage to your life. In any case, it is critical to work with an experienced Michigan sex crimes attorney who will protect your legal rights and fight for the best possible results.