2008 Woodie Awards
State police officer charged with rape
Ocean View officer accused of having consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl
Wallace McKelvey
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
A Delaware policeman was arrested and charged with statutory rape after an investigation uncovered he had consensual sex with a teenaged girl, Delaware State Police said.
State Police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said Walter Johnson, a 31-year-old Ocean View police officer, had sex with a 17-year-old Dagsboro resident twice between October and November 2006.
An investigation was launched after a third party reported the incidents, Whitmarsh said.
Police obtained arrest warrants for two counts of rape in the fourth degree on March 30, he said. Rape in the fourth degree refers to consensual sex in which the victim is less than 18 years old and the suspect is more than 30 years old.
Whitmarsh said Johnson was apparently unaware of the victim's age. Police said the teenaged girl cooperated with investigators.
Johnson surrendered the same evening police obtained the arrest warrant. He was arraigned and released on $40,000 unsecured bail.
Johnson was unavailable for comment.
"As a condition of his bail, he is to have no contact with the victim or any persons under the age of 18," Whitmarsh said.
Adam Gelof, deputy attorney general of the Rape Unit for the Delaware Department of Justice, said a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 5 to determine the future of the case.
"The sentencing range is all over - from probation to two or three years in jail," he said.
According to Ocean View town records, Johnson was hired in September 2005 and graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in January 2006.
Robert Powell, public information officer of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, said Johnson was appointed fire chief this January, but resigned voluntarily following the incident.
"He joined the company as a junior when he was 15 years old," Powell said.
During his time with the fire company, Johnson had also served as rescue captain and deputy chief, he said.
State Police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said Walter Johnson, a 31-year-old Ocean View police officer, had sex with a 17-year-old Dagsboro resident twice between October and November 2006.
An investigation was launched after a third party reported the incidents, Whitmarsh said.
Police obtained arrest warrants for two counts of rape in the fourth degree on March 30, he said. Rape in the fourth degree refers to consensual sex in which the victim is less than 18 years old and the suspect is more than 30 years old.
Whitmarsh said Johnson was apparently unaware of the victim's age. Police said the teenaged girl cooperated with investigators.
Johnson surrendered the same evening police obtained the arrest warrant. He was arraigned and released on $40,000 unsecured bail.
Johnson was unavailable for comment.
"As a condition of his bail, he is to have no contact with the victim or any persons under the age of 18," Whitmarsh said.
Adam Gelof, deputy attorney general of the Rape Unit for the Delaware Department of Justice, said a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 5 to determine the future of the case.
"The sentencing range is all over - from probation to two or three years in jail," he said.
According to Ocean View town records, Johnson was hired in September 2005 and graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in January 2006.
Robert Powell, public information officer of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, said Johnson was appointed fire chief this January, but resigned voluntarily following the incident.
"He joined the company as a junior when he was 15 years old," Powell said.
During his time with the fire company, Johnson had also served as rescue captain and deputy chief, he said.
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