Church vandal hopes to join Army

In the 18 months since Jonathon Walker was sentenced for vandalizing six Carson Valley churches, he has turned his life around, said his family and friends.

The 21-year-old paid thousands of dollars of restitution with money he earned, wrote letters of apology to the victims, performed 200 hours of community service, and has addressed church youth groups about the wrongness of what he and three juveniles did June 6, 2006.

The quartet, inspired by date "6-6-6" spray-painted obscenities and satanic references on six churches, flattened tires on church buses, and generally outraged the Carson Valley community.

Now, Walker wants to join the U.S. Army, but said he is prohibited because he has six misdemeanor convictions.

He asked District Judge Michael Gibbons on Monday if the six charges could be converted to four which the Army would find acceptable.

"The military only allows four or less," he said. "I am here to see if I can get a dismissal."

His probation officer, Kevin Young, said Walker has completed all terms of probation with the exception of $150 in fees.

Young said he could not recommend Walker be released from probation early, but would not object if that's what Gibbons decides.

Walker was sentenced Sept. 25, 2006, to four years probation.

Assistant District Attorney Michael McCormick said the request raised legal issues he wasn't prepared to answer Monday.

"There is no mechanism to amend a judgment of conviction once you begin to serve it," McCormick said. "You can get a record sealed, but you can't modify the judgment unless there is an error."

Gibbons set a hearing for April 14 and told Walker he must bring proof that the Army is interested in recruiting him.

His father, Archie Walker, said he has met twice with recruiters in Carson City and can verify what his son said.

"The recruiter is not looking to have the crimes eliminated. He used words like 'squash' or 'compress,'" Walker said.

"Jonathon has paid all the restitution on his own," Walker said. "He's had a hard time keeping a job because of the economy, and wants to enlist in the military."

McCormick said he was reluctant to answer the judge's question if it was "in the realm of possibility" to grant Walker's request.

"He offended and disrupted this entire community when he spray-painted those churches," McCormick said. "I don't know if he's paid enough."

Gibbons acknowledged that Walker began to make amends right after he was arrested.

"His rehabilitation process began the moment he went into custody," Gibbons said.

The judge declined to give Walker a court-appointed attorney because he's not facing jail time. He told Walker he could do a lot of work on his own, but suggested he have a lawyer at the April 14 hearing.

"It would help if you get letters from the victims or anyone else to support your position. You definitely need something from the military that shows what needs to be done," Gibbons said.

"If he goes in the military, I see it as a form of rehabilitation. It won't be taken lightly," the judge said.

McCormick said he wanted to contact the victims.

"I applaud him for doing well," McCormick said. "At the same time, a price has to be paid and I don't know if he's paid that in full."