Taunton man convicted of molesting preteen step-grandson

Crime

Prosecutors say 73-year-old Fred Walker molested the sufferer whereas the sufferer was visiting his grandmother’s dwelling.

A Bristol County jury has convicted a 73-year-old Taunton man of molesting his preteen step-grandson a number of occasions over almost three years, in keeping with the Bristol County District Legal professional’s Workplace. 

After a three-day trial in Fall River Superior Courtroom final week, the jury convicted Fred Walker of indecent assault and battery on an individual underneath the age of 14, the DA’s workplace stated in a press launch Tuesday. Choose Susan Sullivan sentenced Walker to 5 to eight years in jail

Between July 2018 and Might 2021, Walker molested the sufferer on a number of events when the sufferer was spending time at his grandmother’s Taunton dwelling, the discharge stated. The sufferer testified concerning the abuse on the trial.

The sufferer’s mom testified that she would depart her two sons at her mom’s dwelling just a few occasions monthly when her work schedule required it, the discharge stated. The sufferer’s older brother instructed the jury he noticed the sufferer and Walker alone in two separate rooms of the house with the door shut. He additionally stated the sufferer revealed the abuse to him lower than an hour after studying that Walker was planning to maneuver to Nevada.

In accordance with the U.S. Marshals Service, a warrant was issued for Walker’s arrest in February 2022. In April 2022, the Marshals Service decided that he was probably residing with a member of the family in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and arrested him there. 

“The defendant took benefit of his entry to the sufferer after they have been dwelling alone and subjected him to very degrading and offensive touching. I commend the sufferer for his braveness in persevering by this ordeal,” Bristol County District Legal professional Thomas Quinn III stated within the launch.