THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605090379
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Whenever Walter E. Skinner visited South Hampton Roads from his home in New York City, the retired hotel-chain executive told his wife he was caring for his aged mother.
It was the perfect alibi. Skinner's mother lived in Virginia Beach and was ill enough to require constant attention from a family member or a health-care professional.
What Skinner's wife didn't know was that her Ivy League-educated husband also was using his Virginia trips to meet with boys as young as 11 for sexual trysts in Oceanfront hotels.
The illegal liaisons lasted for at least five years until Skinner, now 67, was arrested after Virginia Beach police interviewed him in July 1995. Skinner was charged when one of the boys refused to go along with the advances and told his mother.
Skinner has pleaded guilty to 19 charges related to molestations of three victims.
On Wednesday, Circuit Judge Jerome Friedman struggled with an unusual dilemma: What does a judge do with an elderly child molester with a mostly clean record who almost certainly will die in prison if sent there? Under new sentencing guidelines, the shortest sentence Skinner could serve is 17 years, 8 months. The longest: more than 51 years.
The decision was made more difficult when the only psychiatrist consulted in the case determined that Skinner was not a pedophile and posed no danger to society. Skinner has been in therapy in New York since his arrest.
Friedman decided to seek a second opinion. The judge postponed sentencing Skinner until Aug. 26, ordering that a second psychiatrist be consulted.
``I'm the one who has to make the decision,'' Friedman said. ``I have to look out for the victims in this case. This is something that children never forget. . . . But I am also concerned about a man who has lived an exemplary life . . . is well-educated . . . but who has a bad problem.''
Skinner, a graduate of Cornell University and married for 28 years, has been molesting young boys in Virginia Beach since at least August 1990, when he was introduced to an 11-year-old boy at a youth football league in Virginia Beach.
Police believe the relationship lasted until at least January 1993 and overlapped with Skinner's relationship with a second victim that began in January 1992 and lasted until July 1995.
Skinner convinced parents of the children that he could be a trusted older friend to the boys. He stayed with them for three-day weekends dozens of times at the Colonial Inn and the Friendship Inn.
The charges against Skinner range from forcible sodomy to taking indecent liberties with children. Police believe there were more than three victims.
Skinner met a third boy through his relationship with the second one. Skinner was found out when that youngster told his mother, who reported Skinner to police.
Friedman ordered that Skinner be examined by a local psychiatrist. Skinner, who is free on bond and living in New York, will be required to return to Virginia repeatedly for the examination, Friedman said.
``I want this to be a very thorough evaluation,'' Friedman said.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Shep D. Wainger said he understood Friedman's dilemma and did not disagree with the judge's desire for a second opinion.
``It's a reasonable request and something the court probably needs to do,'' Wainger said.
KEYWORDS: CHILD MOLESTER SEX CRIME ARREST
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