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BROWNSVILLE
ICE Officer Accused of Soliciting Minor

Aug 2, 2006 11:28 PM EDT


Reported by Andrea Conklin

An immigration officer has been arrested in the Valley for allegedly using the Internet to try to solicit a minor for sex.

Authorities Wednesday announced the "child" turned out to be a California lawman posing online as a 13-year-old girl.

Forty-three-year-old Michael Aaron Walker was taken into custody Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Brownsville.

Walker was most recently working in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but allegedly committed the crime while serving as an armed transport officer in Los Fresnos.

The Texas attorney general's office says Walker is charged with online solicitation of a minor and criminal attempted sexual performance by a child.

Neighbors Describe Walker As Nice Man

Most of his neighbors at the Timbers Apartments in Harlingen remember Walker as the kind of guy you'd join after work for drinks and a pack of smokes.

He was the guy who'd feed a stray cat or give the girl next door a ride to the airport, but not the type of person described in an arrest warrant obtained by Action 4 News, at least not in their memories.

ICE spokesperson Leticia Zamarripa says the sex charges have led to Walker's immediate suspension.

"He is an immigration and enforcement agent who is currently on administrative leave," says Zamarripa.

Details of Allegations

In court records, the Attorney General's office details how a detective with a California sheriff's department first met Walker online.

Using the name "badboy_afterdark" and other suggestive identities, Walker reportedly asked her if she was 13, then escalated their conversation.

According to the affidavit, he told the girl she needed "a spanking without any panties." Walker then invited her to watch as he masturbated in front of a web camera.

The accusations, though, don't come as a surprise to everyone.

One neighbor admitted to Action 4 News he was aware of Walker's bad behavior and that he had warned him to stop, a warning he's now sure Walker didn't heed.

Online solicitation of a minor and criminal attempted sexual performance by a child are third-degree felonies, punishment by up to ten years in prison and fines of up to ten-thousand dollars.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)







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