On Wednesday Barry Walker, 58, pleaded guilty to several counts of rape and other sexual crimes involving children, giving him 18 life sentences in Pike County. Charges in Pike County stemmed from a long list of allegations he assaulted multiple children. In court, Clark County prosecuting attorney Dan Turner read testimony from several victims.
Each letter shared different messages directed toward Walker saying: “God will never forgive you for what you did.” “You’re the most disgusting man I’ve ever met. I hope you rot in hell.”
“You ruined my life and my family’s.”
A timeline of events is below:
According to the news release on June 9, Walker was arrested by Investigator John Jones following initial allegations of sexual assault reported to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.
A search warrant was executed at Walker’s residence the same day, resulting in the seizure of seven firearms and several thousand homemade child pornography images, as well as several thousand downloaded child pornography images.
On July 13, charges were filed against Walker for multiple rapes and related offenses alleged to have been committed against minor female children in Pike and Clark County. A criminal information request was filed against Walker in Pike County Circuit Court for allegations involving seven separate children. Additionally, Walker was charged in Clark County Circuit Court for allegations against four other minor children. These filings each included charges of rape and other similar felony charges. More charges were filed against Walker on July 27. These included more criminal information requests filed in Pike County and four additional filings in Clark County. Walker was charged with allegations of rape against an additional five minor children, including similar felony charges as those previously filed.
Walker faces, in total, 34 counts of rape, 29 counts of computer child exploitation, 28 counts of producing directing or promoting a sexual performance by a child, and 29 counts of engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in a visual or print medium.
Collectively, charges against Walker include 39 class Y felonies, 76 class B felonies, 17 class C felonies, and 11 filings for sentence enhancement for those offenses committed in the presence of a child. Walker faces ten to 40 years, or life in prison for each class Y felony, 5 years to 20 years for each class B felony, and 3 years to 10 years for each class C felony. Walker is being held in the Pike County Jail. This investigation is ongoing; charges filed are merely accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Individuals with information regarding this investigation are encouraged to contact Sheriff Jason Watson with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 223-3860 or Investigator John Jones with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 784-2591.
