A disturbing case in Montana has resulted in a 20-year prison sentence for Adam Paul Walker, a 43-year-old man convicted of a heinous assault on a child. The incident, which has left a one-year-old girl permanently blinded, dates back to 2018 when Walker inflicted grievous harm on the child he was supposed to be caring for.
The grim details emerged in court, where Walker entered a plea of no contest to charges of aggravated assault. Evidence presented to the Yellowstone County Judges revealed that Walker had violently shaken the 13-month-old, causing severe injuries that necessitated intensive medical care. The child was left in a vulnerable state, suffering from impaired breathing and a vacant, ‘dazed’ expression in her eyes.
At the time of the assault, Walker was entrusted with the child’s care while her mother was away. Although he was in a turbulent relationship with the mother, Walker was not the father of the child. The situation took a tragic turn when the mother returned to find her daughter injured, prompting Walker to call 911. Despite his claims that the girl had merely fallen and hit her head, the severity of the injuries suggested otherwise.
The Billings Gazette reported that during the emergency call, Walker described noticing the child’s labored breathing and the unsettling look in her eyes. The court proceedings have shed light on the tragic consequences of Walker’s actions, labeling the young victim with cruel terms such as ‘b****’ and ‘devil child’ before inflicting irreversible damage.
This case stands as a stark reminder of the trust placed in caregivers and the devastating repercussions when that trust is violated. As Walker begins his lengthy prison term, the focus remains on the child’s recovery and the hope for a better future despite the challenges she now faces.
Walker claimed the little girl had fallen and hit her head.
EMTs took her to a hospital in Billings, Montana. Law enforcement later found that Walker drove under the influence to meet them there.
He then allegedly told hospital staff the injured girl’s name was spelled ‘b***.’ His attorney claimed the defendant was referring to her mother.
Adam Paul Walker, 43, pleaded no contest to aggravated assault and a misdemeanor DUI
Other records indicated Walker often spoke disparagingly of the child.
According to the 2018 filing, he told officers in the emergency room that he ‘hated the little red-headed child’ and that ‘she was evil.’
In text messages, the Billings Police Department reported, Walker called her a ‘devil baby.’
Yellowstone County Attorney Arielle Dean said Walker’s actions had irrevocably harmed the little girl.
‘She will never reach her pre-injury potential. Ever,’ Dean told the judge.
Her injuries included hemorrhaging of her brain and both eyes. She was taken to the pediatric intensive care unit in Salt Lake City for treatment.
Photos presented during the trial showed the girl with breathing tubes down her nose and an IV in her ankle.
Walker was sentenced to 20 years at the Montana State Prison
Doctors reportedly told investigators that she showed telltale signs of shaken baby syndrome.
They noted the damage could not have been the result of an accidental injury, preexisting condition or reasonable discipline, per KULR8.
Nearly a decade later, she undergoes frequent physical and occupational therapy and has almost no vision at all.
‘Her entire brain was injured. Her eyes were so damaged that her sight was taken from her,’ said Dean.
She reportedly told the court that Walker delayed proper treatment for the child by not being honest about what happened to her.
‘She will never be the person she was born to be because of what the defendant did to her,’ Dean said.
Walker’s attorney, Daniel Ball, said his client should receive a suspended sentence due to past trauma
Walker’s attorney, Daniel Ball, argued for a suspended sentence due to PTSD Walker acquired while deployed in the Air Force.
Walker was officially charged with a misdemeanor DUI and aggravated assault. Charges for tampering with evidence were dropped.
He is set to serve 20 years in Montana State Prison with five years suspended for aggravated assault. The judge ordered an additional day in jail for his DUI offense.
Walker left the courtroom in handcuffs.
The Daily Mail contacted the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office and Walker’s attorney for comment.
