Oklahoma stepfather pleads guilty to abuse after stepdaughter gives birth
By Stef Manchen
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MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma (KJRH) — A Muskogee County man entered a blind plea in court after his 11-year-old stepdaughter gave birth to his baby.
Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told 2 News Oklahoma that DNA testing revealed a 99% certainty that Dustin Walker is the baby’s father. Hutson expected the guilty plea and said this is one move towards justice for the child.
“Ultimately, it will be, we only did a blind plea today,” Hutson said. “A pre-sentence investigation was ordered. There will be a sentencing hearing on June 18th, and I am hopeful for a lengthy sentence.”
Walker pleaded guilty to felony sexual abuse of a child under 12 and six felony counts of child neglect. All charges are 85% crimes, meaning once sentenced, Walker must serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
“Because they are punishable up to life, life has been calculated in the state of Oklahoma to be 45 years,” said Hutson. “So if he is sentenced to life, he must serve 38 years and three months before he is eligible for parole.”
Ben Hilfiger is representing Walker. He said it’s not his typical practice to enter a blind plea, meaning there was no prior agreement with the state.
“Normally we will have a plea agreement when we go to plea our clients, but in this case I didn’t feel like there was one that we could get that would be useful or helpful in any way,” said Hilfiger.
While he didn’t want to speculate on the final sentencing, Hilfiger said it is possible for a multiple-life sentencing.
“It’s wide open,” said Hilfiger. “Count one carries a minimum of 25 years, and they all carry up to life. So, you’re probably looking at somewhere in that range, but other than that, it’s wide open.”
Sentencing is scheduled for June 18th.
Court records show the 11-year-old gave birth to a full-term baby at home with no prenatal care or doctor visits during her entire pregnancy.
2 News spoke to Michelle Justus, the child’s grandmother, before she was charged in the case, too.
“They keep saying that we knew about my granddaughter’s pregnancy, and we did not,” said Justus. “No one knew. She did not look pregnant.”
Walker, the girl’s biological mother, Cherie Walker, and her grandmother, Michelle Justus, maintained that no one in the home knew the child was pregnant. They both face charges.
During a preliminary hearing on Jan. 30, Dustin Walker waived his right to participate. By entering a blind plea, he pleads guilty with no agreement in place with prosecutors. This move hands complete sentencing power over to the judge.
“This case has been extremely difficult,” Hutson told 2 News at that preliminary. hearing. “My hope is that with justice, these children will find some permanency and a better place.”
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