Carbon teen given long state prison term for sexual assault on two girls

A Carbon County teen was sentenced to a long state prison term on Thursday afternoon after previously pleading guilty to sexual assault of two young girls.

Lamark Deandre Walker Jr., 18, of Lansford, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve a total of four to eight years in a state correctional institution on charges of statutory sexual assault and indecent assault. Walker admitted having sexual intercourse with two girls, both age 13 at the time.

Walker, who was 17 at the time of the incidents, was charged as an adult as per state law because he was involved in two previous felony sexual assault cases in juvenile court, and because of the felony charges in these cases.

In exchange for the pleas, the district attorney’s office agreed to drop counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault in the first case; and charges of aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault in the second case.

Lansford police charged Walker for incidents in November 2018 at a residence in the Lansford Court development. At the time of his arrest, Lansford Police Chief Jack Soberick said when his department learned of the alleged assaults, they moved quickly to file charges to prevent any further victims.

The victims admitted to having sex with Walker at his residence in Lansford Court. The incidents occurred between November and December 2018.

Police began investigating after a mother came forward in December stating that she believed that Walker had sex with her daughter. She also learned that Walker was four years older than her daughter.

Police searched the girl’s devices and social media accounts and found several pictures of her with Walker.

The girl admitted in an interview that she had sex with Walker on Dec. 26.

The second victim was interviewed by police and said she had sex with Walker and he refused to stop when she asked. She also said they had consensual sex on other occasions.

Lack of maturity

Defense attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said he felt Walker’s lack of maturity was part of the reason for his conduct. He also said Walker has mental health issues he was being treated for but was on and off his medications over the years.

Nanovic noted that a presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office indicated Walker has a history of sexual assault. He also said the report indicates that Walker claims to have had sex with 20 different women over the years and is the father of four children to four different women.

When pressed by Nanovic about those claims, Walker said he has a child 6 years old. Nanovic said, “That would make you 12 years old at the time.”

Nanovic also said a psychiatrist determined that Walker was a psychopath. Nanovic said the doctor determined, “you are a high risk to offend again.”

Nanovic also questioned Walker on letters he wrote to a relative of one victim and letter directly to another victim. In a letter to one of the victims, he asked her to ask the court for less jail time or to drop the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo, who prosecuted the case, said Walker was “immature and a bragger.” He said although he has not given up on Walker turning himself around, he added, “He needs to pay the price for what he did to these girls.”

In addition to the prison term Nanovic ordered Walker to get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample, have no contact with the victims, submit to sexual offenders evaluation and pay court costs of about $1,000. He was given credit for 385 days already spent in prison on the charges.