Sex offender who exposed himself to children at playground headed back to prison

A 2016 photo of Joseph Gene Walker from the GBI Sex Offender Registry.

Credit: GBI Sex Offender Registry

Credit: GBI Sex Offender Registry

A 2016 photo of Joseph Gene Walker from the GBI Sex Offender Registry.

A man previously convicted of statutory rape is going back to prison after a jury found him guilty of another sex crime involving children, the Henry County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

Joseph Gene Walker, 42, was sentenced to 30 years with 15 to serve Thursday for exposing himself to children on a playground at a McDonough apartment complex, Henry County officials said.

Walker was convicted of two counts of child molestation, loitering, public indecency, public drunkenness and obstruction of an officer. He was also found in violation of the sex offender registry.

On July 29, 2017, police arrived at the playground at the Echelon Park Apartments on McDonough Parkway after a babysitter said she saw Walker expose his genitals and masturbated.

Walker, who was intoxicated, ran from police when the babysitter pointed him out, authorities said. Walker ignored commands to stop, but was arrested a short time later.

Police later learned Walker was a sex offender and was in violation of the registry requirements.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Walker was convicted in 2004 of statutory rape in Clayton County. He was released in 2008.

In addition to his prison sentence, Walker must remain on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life.

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