Christopher Walden, 37, was charged in Clark County Municipal Court with rape. The child victim is under the age of 13, according to court records. He’s pleaded not guilty in Clark County Municipal Court and is currently incarcerated in the Clark County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
According to court documents, Walden is due back in Clark County Municipal Court on Oct. 28 for a preliminary hearing. However, Walden is charged with a felony, according to court records, and that means his case may be presented to a grand jury where he could be indicted into Clark County Common Pleas Court.
Clark County Grand Jury schedules and hearings are secret.
Walden’s legal troubles began Sept. 20 when Springfield police detectives were assigned a case to investigate the alleged rape. A child victim was interviewed by officials at the Clark County Child Advocacy Center.
“The child victim disclosed that in August 2019, Christopher Walden had pulled her pants off her in his bedroom and talked to her about (sexual activity),” the affidavit says.
The child victim then told authorities that Walden began to sexually assault her.
“After the child victim stated Mr. Walden was done, the child victim stated that Mr. Walden then pulled his pants down around his ankles and told her to do it to him,” the affidavit says. “The child victim refused at which time Mr. Walden stated ‘fine’ and got dressed.”
The child also disclosed that Walden had told her several other things about sex and said that the child had seen Walden nude and performing a sex act on himself.
“Mr. Walden was questioned at police headquarters on Oct. 16 and questioned at BCI (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) on Oct. 17,” the affidavit says. “On Oct. 17, after being Mirandized … Walden was questioned and later admitted to penetrating the child…”
“Mr. Walden had (a law enforcement officer) write an apology letter to the child victim expressing his remorse for the offense,” the affidavit says. “Mr. Walden stated this is the only occurrence that this has happened.”
The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office appeared at Walden’s arraignment last week and asked the judge for a high bond. Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Morris said there have been allegations that Walden threatened to hurt the girl and her pet if she reported the alleged abuse.
Walden rebutted the allegation to the judge.
“I’m not dangerous,” Walden said. “I’m not a threat to anybody.”
Along with setting the $250,000 bond, Clark County Municipal Judge Denise Moody also ordered Walden to have no contact with the child victim.
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