SAN ANTONIO -- A sentence was returned Saturday morning for an Air Force training instructor at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland. Twenty six year old Staff Sergeant Luis Walker was found guilty Friday evening on all charges of sexually assaulting ten trainees.
On Saturday morning a jury sentenced him to 20-years of confinement.
Emotions ran high in the courtroom, from Staff Sgt. Luis Walker wiping way tears as his family members pleaded with the jury to consider a more lenient sentence for the sake of his young boys to five of the victims taking the stand as they talked about how the sexual abuse had forever impacted their lives.
It took an hour and a half for the jury to sentence Walker. The jury also decided on a dishonorable discharge, and for him to be reduced to the lowest enlisted rank of E-1, and to forfeit all pay and allowances.
Walker was found guilty Friday on all charges, including rape, aggravated sexual assault, attempted wrongful sexual contact, unprofessional relationships, adultery, and obstruction of justice involving ten female basic military trainees.
During a news conference held shortly after the sentencing phase of the trial an air force spokesperson explained how Staff Sgt. Walker could have been given anything from no punishment to the maximum punishment of life without the possibility of parole.
Colonel Polly Kenny talked about what type of message this sentence conveys.
“I would say that deterrence obviously is a huge part of sentencing and we would certainly want to detour and send a message to others that this kind of behavior is serious,” said Col. Kenny.
Walker is among 12 Lackland Air Force instructors investigated for sexual misconduct, with at least 31 female trainees. He is the second instructor to be convicted within the 12 cases.
