MEDIA — District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced today that William Walker, 62, of Chester, has been charged with the Trafficking in Minors, Sexual Abuse of a Child, Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Dissemination of Photographs/Film of Child Sex Acts, Corruption of Minors, and the Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, all felonies, involving a 17 year-old female victim.
“The facts of this case are quite straight-forward: a 62 year old man procured sex acts from a 17- year-old victim in exchange for money and, when she attempted to end the relationship, he retaliated against her by threatening and harassing her and by disseminating sexually explicit videos to her friends and family,” said DA Stollsteimer. “The defendant’s actions are deeply disturbing as well as illegal. He manipulated and used a young woman, fully aware of her age. We cannot and will not tolerate this criminal behavior,” said Stollsteimer.
On January 8, 20221, the defendant contacted the Special Investigations Unit and spoke with Detective Steve Bannar. The defendant wanted to lodge a complaint because of damage to his vehicle that he alleged had been caused by the victim. In the course of making his report, the defendant acknowledged that he was sexually intimate with the victim, that he purchased things for her, and that she was under the age of 18. Based on that information, Officer Jennifer Jones of the Chester Police Department contacted the victim to discuss her relationship with the defendant. The victim reported that in October of 2020 the defendant approached her and offered to buy her “whatever she wanted” in return for sexual favors. She reported that from October to December 2020 the victim and the defendant had multiple sexual encounters, during which the defendant would video and photograph the acts using his cell phone. In return for the sexual favors, the defendant spent approximately $2,000 on the victim. When the victim attempted to break off the relationship, the defendant retaliated by vandalizing the victim’s car, threatening and harassing her, and sending sexually explicit videos and photographs of the victim to the victim’s family and friends.
A search warrant was obtained for the victim’s cell phone. Forensic analysis of the device, as well as GPS data, corroborated the victim’s account of the defendant’s actions.
“I want to thank Officer Jones, the members of the Child Abuse and Exploitation Task Force, Sergeant Robin Clark, Detective Mark Bucci, and Assistant District Attorney Chris Boggs, Chief of the Special Victims Unit, for their work on this case. I also want thank the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, particularly Detective Ed Pisani and Sergeant Ken Bellis, for their support with forensics. I also want to express our deep appreciation to the staff of the Child Advocacy Center, whose support for victims is critical to our efforts to pursue these difficult cases,” said Stollsteimer.
The defendant is being held at George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Bail was set at $250,000 (10%). A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 8, 2021 in front of Judge Wilden Horace Davis.
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
For press inquiries, please contact Margie McAboy, Public Information Officer, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.