Saturday, July 17, 1999
Ex-officer's appeal says sentence racist
White defendant received lighter penalty, he says
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Former Police Officer Kevin Walker complained to an appeals court Friday that he has been treated more harshly than another former officer who was convicted of a similar crime.
Mr. Walker, 35, was sentenced this week to three years in prison for extorting sex from female suspects he met while on duty.
Common Pleas Judge Arthur Ney said he would allow Mr. Walker to remain free while appealing his sentence if the former officer posted a $150,000 cash bond.
Mr. Walker, who is African-American, noted in his complaint that another former officer who is white was convicted of similar offenses and received one year in jail.
That officer, Patrick Knight, has since been released on a $50,000 bond while he appeals his case.
Mr. Walker's attorney, Kenneth Lawson, asked the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals to set a more reasonable bond so his client can remain free pending his appeal.
Mr. Lawson said in his written request to the court that Mr. Walk er's sentence and bond are unfair in light of the sentence and bond set for Mr. Knight.
He said the words engraved in stone on the side of the courthouse — “Equal and exact justice to all men” — prove his point.
“What does "equal and exact justice to all men' mean when a white former police officer, Patrick Knight, is out on a $50,000 bond for a similar case?” Mr. Lawson stated.
Although the accusations in the two cases are similar, the judge who sentenced Mr. Walker noted that there were differences that could affect sentencing.
Mr. Knight was convicted of two counts of bribery and one count of sexual battery, while Mr. Walker was guilty of one count of bribery and three counts of sexual battery.
In both cases, prosecutors said the men used their positions of authority to extort sex from women.
Prosecutors said Mr. Walker and Mr. Knight both told female suspects they could avoid arrest if they had sex with the officers.
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