Father says son wants to make amends for church graffiti

The father of a 19-year-old accused of spray painting obscenities and satanic phrases on six Carson Valley churches says he wants the community to know how remorseful his son is.

"He knows the difference between right and wrong," Archie Walker said of his son Jonathon.

"He knows he offended the churches, but I think he offended God more," Walker said in an interview. "He had a Christian upbringing."

Walker was at work at the Carson Valley Inn early June 6 when he learned of the vandalism and graffiti at the six churches.

The acts - which some tied to the date of 06/06/06, a reference to the number 666 - provoked shock and outrage among community members.

Walker went to Trinity Lutheran Church where he and his son are members and talked to Pastor Tom Windsor, not suspecting that Jonathon was involved.

When he heard a description of the vehicle and a partial license plate number, he knew it was his son.

"I called him and he and the others (suspects) were at the (Douglas County) library on the computers. I went over there and brought them all out front and asked them about it. They admitted it and I said, 'We're going to the sheriff's department.'

"All four voluntarily went. I took them in and they talked to the detectives. Subsequently, all four confessed. I think it's important for the community to know they were not dragged in and not handcuffed."

Jonathon Walker is in custody in Douglas County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. He is charged with six gross misdemeanor counts of damage to property used for religious purposes.

Archie Walker visits his son every day that he is allowed and has attended all his court appearances.

"I told him I would stick by him no matter how tough it got," Walker said. "I'm not giving up on him."

"He never got in trouble with the law before, he's never been arrested."

Walker said his son moved out about two months ago.

"He wanted to be on his own," Walker said.

He apparently lived in his vehicle and became part of the subculture that his father said exists in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

"He was running around in the Ranchos," Walker said. "There's a whole underworld of lost kids out there, the kids get involved in all kinds of stuff."

But Walker said he holds no one responsible but his son.

"He's very remorseful," Walker said. "Everybody has their opinion of what should be done. He wants to pay back for what he's done. He'll do whatever the court will have him do."

Almost two weeks in jail has had its effect on Jonathon, his father said.

"He's not arrogant or rebellious," Walker said. "He's his old self again. I haven't heard this many 'I love yous' from him for a long time."

Walker is aware that people will think his son's actions are the result of faulty parenting, but he said people are "coming out of the woodwork," to talk to him about the challenges they're having with their own children.

"He knows the difference between right and wrong. He made that wrong turn," Walker said. "When they're so engrossed at 18 or 19, they don't understand the consequences."

Walker's next court appearance is June 28.

The 17-year-old juveniles - two boys and a girl - admitted the charges against them and are scheduled for a July 10 disposition hearing.

Walker said he's found support from fellow parishioners at Trinity Lutheran.

"They're all forgiving, but they want to know why they did it," he said. "I don't think we'll ever get a clear reason."

Walker said it was very difficult to turn in his son.

"In a way, I regretted it," he said, "but it was the right thing to do."