MORGANTOWN — Gary Walden, a landlord convicted of sexual abuse and stealing from a tenant was granted parole on the sexual abuse charges, but remains on home confinement.
Judge John Henning granted Walden’s request for parole noting that he would have been eligible for parole at the end of July 2017 had he remained in prison. Walden was released from prison and put on home confinement after developing several medical issues in the penitentiary. Henning said the extra year of home confinement was an “equalizer” for the ease of home confinement compared to prison.
Walden will now serve one to 15 years home confinement for burglary. He will serve five years probation for the abuse. Henning warned him that violating the terms of probation could send him back to prison.
Tom Dyer, defense attorney, asked Henning to discuss ways Walden could be granted work release. Henning said he was open to the idea, but not the previously denied request which would have seen Walden working for his son doing construction.
Henning said he didn’t expect Walden to get a job at McDonald’s like a 19-year-old who’s never held a job, but that working “24/7” and using his home only to sleep was not the point of home confinement. He suggested Walden look into some form of charity work.
Perri Jo DeChristopher, Monongalia County prosecutor, suggested Walden’s skill set would be most useful at Habitat for Humanity. She also echoed Henning in that working construction with his son would not be appropriate, and the last time he asked to do so, one of the places he submitted as a work location would have been in violation of the terms and conditions of his home confinement.
Walden also faced a federal civil suit for his actions. That suit was settled and Walden will have to create a $500,000 compensation fund for victims he sexually harassed. He will also have to pay a $100,000 penalty.
Story by William Dean