Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504170088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Medium
U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris characterized the child-prostitution scheme as ``disgusting,'' and rejected the defense lawyers' requests for leniency. On Friday, he gave John A. Walling, 59, of Springfield, and Donna D. Jones, 30, of Washington, D.C., the maximum penalty.
Walling and Jones were arrested in November at Walling's home after a two-month investigation by Fairfax County Police, who received a tip that Walling was offering sex with children. The arrests came after they offered the 7-year-old girl to an undercover officer for $50.
The couple pleaded guilty in January to charges of conspiracy to transport children across state lines and child prostitution. Jones said she provided the girls to Walling. Walling admitted he engaged in sexual activity with both youngsters and offered them to others. Authorities said they have no evidence that anyone else had sex with the girls.
Walling's lawyer, Kathleen A. Brown, sought leniency for her client by arguing that the girls had consented to the sexual activities. She also said Walling had bought the girls clothing, shoes and school supplies and ``treated them to full, wholesome meals because he was aware they may not [be getting that] all the time. He bought them Sega [video] games to stimulate their minds.''
Though Walling could have just ``given out $20 bills,'' she said, ``he chose to give something back to these little girls.''
Prosecutor Mark Hulkower said, however, that Brown's reasoning was ``offensive to the victims'' and that Walling was no ``patron saint for disadvantaged children.''
``A 7-year-old, much like a person with a mental disease, cannot consent to oral sodomy on a 59-year-old man,'' Hulkower said.
Jones' lawyer said the woman was a crack addict who had a sexual relationship with Walling and then got involved in the prostitution scheme to earn money for drugs. The lawyer said Jones is in a drug treatment program and has been taking classes since her incarceration.
Both Walling and Jones apologized Friday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.
``I am ... sorry and humble for what I've done,'' Walling told the judge. ``At 60 years of age, there's not much time left. I pray for some leniency so I can rejoin my family and growing grandchildren.''
Cacheris postponed a decision on whether Walling will pay roughly $20,000 in restitution to cover costs for psychological treatment for the two girls.
The two also face sentencing Friday in Fairfax County, where they pleaded guilty to related charges in February. Jones faces up to 20 years in prison for detaining and procuring a person for sexual acts for profit. Walling faces a possible sentence of life in prison for distributing cocaine to Jones and on several sex-related counts.
by CNB