An Akron man will spend his life in prison on charges that he raped three young girls over a three-month period.
Delacey Walters, 27, earlier this month was convicted by a jury on nine counts of raping a child under age 10 and five counts of gross sexual imposition. The rape charges carried mandatory life in prison because the girls were so young.
Under the life sentence by Summit County Judge Tammy O’Brien, Walters is eligible for parole after 45 years.
At sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Jaime Syx described Walters’ crimes as “terrible.”
“Those girls had to come in here and testify and relive all of that again,” Syx said. “He made them come in here and testify in front of a jury.”
Syx said Walters sexually abused the girls — 8-year-old twins and their 2-year-old sister. In addition, Walters passed on a sexually transmitted disease to the sisters. He abused them from Oct. 8 to Dec. 25 while their mother was at work.
Eddie Sipplen, Walters’ attorney, asked the judge not to consider Syx’s “appeal to emotion.” Instead, he asked the judge to sentence Walters based on the law.
Sipplen said he advised his client not to make a comment at the sentencing because he intends to appeal his conviction.
During the hearing, Walters remained expressionless. Handcuffed and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, Walters shook his head at some points while the judge labeled him a Tier III sex offender. As a sex offender, he’ll have to register with his local sheriff’s office every three months for the rest of his life if he’s released from prison.
The sisters’ father was present in court and was set to make a statement, but decided shortly beforehand that he would remain silent.
The judge expressed disdain for Walters’ actions.
“This is a case where three little girls who were entrusted to your care were violated in the most horrific of ways,” O’Brien said.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook @JournoNickGlunt .