According to the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office, Joe Walker of Mammoth Lakes has entered guilty pleas to 5 felony counts out of 21 sex-related charges lodged against him by the Santa Barbara DA. The pleas took place in court on Friday. The amended criminal complaint filed against Walker described a situation over two years in which both he and Dr. Andrew Bourne had sexual relations with a Santa Barbara teenager when she was 14 and 15. Charges were related to that victim.
Walker pled guilty to two counts of lewd acts upon a child of 14, one count of unlawful contact with a child with the intent to commit a sex crime, two counts of lewd acts upon a child of 15, oral copulation of a person under 16, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The amended complaint and plea form filed with the court on Friday described instances over a two year period in which Walker engaged in sexual intercourse with the teenager and encouraged his friend, Dr. Andrew Bourne to do the same. The documents related Walker’s basis for his plea, including statements that he had encouraged Andrew Bourne and the young victim to have sex. The amended complaint named instances of sexual intercourse involving the victim and Walker and the victim and Bourne in Santa Barbara, Mammoth Lakes and other locations. The amended complaint alleged that Walker told Bourne that “Something like this happens once in a lifetime, …and you need to take it to the next level…you need to get physical with Jane Doe.” The complaint goes on to allege that Andrew Bourne told Detective Hunter that “part of the reason he became physical with Jane Doe was because the defendant (Walker) encouraged him to. The complaint also says that Walker suggested Bourne hire Jane Doe as a nanny for the summer in Mammoth Lakes.
Deputy DA in Santa Barabara, Mary Barron, said that Walker will be sentenced on June 1st to “5 years in state prison and must register for life as a sex offender. “Barron also said, “Walker remains out of jail on own recognizance release. Because of his early admission of guilt,” she said, “the plea bargain spared the victim from having to come to court and testify at trial.”
Read the account from KEYT News of Santa Barbara at http://www.keyt.com/news/local/Mammoth-Lakes-Businessman-Who-Had-Sexual-Relations-With-Girl-Enters-Plea—142120013.html .
They aren’t pedophiles. Pedophiles are attracted to prepubescent children. If you are going to label them do so correctly. What they did was have inappropriate contact with a minor. Which in Bourne’s case would have been legal in 31 states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America
Numbskulls:
OK, let’s play by your rules.
The MARRIED and FATHER of TWO CHILDREN, Dr. Andrew Bourne, had a SEXUAL AFFAIR with a 14 YEAR OLD UNDER AGE MINOR GIRL which in the State of California is ILLEGAL. and considered a FELONY OFFENSE.
We would add – according to the Santa Barbara District Attorney and police and according to Joe Walker.
Benett Kessler
Boy you just don’t like the truth now do you. I have not said anything rude, defamatory, obscene , inflammatory , or any other mean statement. I have legitimately criticized the statements and defamatory statements of others. You just need to delete my post! It’s your website Benett however I… Read more »
Dear Mr. or Miss Fed Up, I don’t care to debate tedious posts that have no real point.
Benett Kessler
I didn’t say it wasn’t illegal in CA. Clearly sound judgment wasn’t a strong suit with either of them.
According to reports and (alleged)confessions from BOTH “men”,the girl was 14 when these guys molested her….numbskull…..
Read the articles “Over the course of time, Bourne had sexual intercourse with the girl about six times in 2010. ” She was not 14 in 2010. Note I’m not condoning the actions, it is clearly immoral and wrong, but at least get the info right.
Alleged sexual activity YOU get it right!
It’s not my job to fact check the news articles. You GET IT RIGHT.
Diddler
My question is how would you feel if a 14 year old Jane doe brought a gun to school and killed her peers? Even if she was coerced by an adult to commit these crimes, most would feel that Jane doe was at fault. Walker and bourne deserve to be… Read more »
Ken, There are laws and procedures to protect the victim (the family name is not published, for example). Most criticism I’ve read toward the victim and her family have been from people who still believe the two accused are completely innocent. A sad issue – that reasoning and facts are… Read more »
I agree totally and acknowledge that my views are too personal and probably not applicable to the whole community — not appropriate for all individuals in the community. I admit to wanting to be under a rug hiding from all of this. I don’t even know why I say anything… Read more »
Right on Ken, I’m with ya. As I said, I won’t comment on this story no more, it doesn’t seem to matter much to say how you feel, because some will say you’re defending them and or saying what they did was OK, we know it isn’t OK Ken, what… Read more »
Ken,
Welcome to the world and humanity. This is what happens when people as have, live in a protected little fantasy world as they do here in Mammoth Lakes and the realities of the rest of world hit home.
Reality.
To Ken Warner;
We’ve all read your posts here. It’s obvious in YOUR mind that these men were persecuted. I feel they were duly prosecuted.
There is a world of difference between our opinions.
I’m sorry. It was an error in phasing that I should have corrected. I was wrong to be flippant. You are right.
right on,Benett.
Ken, laws do not always PREVENT the crimes they are attributed. Laws are written to enforce restitution and punishment. In some instances, when the media exposes and covers high profile cases such as this one, laws/trial process/sentencing may act as a future deterrent. See Bryce Carter’s good post above. People… Read more »
I agree with you. But I also think that the existing laws should be made better and much more sensitive to the innocents that surround the perpetrators. There is no reason to destroy whole families or set the members of the community at each others throats. And when there is… Read more »
Regardless the law KEN, would you have allowed Dr. Andrew Bourne and Joe Walker (both well over 30+ years older than the victim in this case) to have sex on several occasions with your 14 year old daughter? Yes or No? Had you found out that both had been doing… Read more »
This discussion is generating lots more heat than light. I suggest stepping back and allowing the dust to settle. Maybe it’ll save more hard feelings and perhaps save some from embarrassing themselves further.
Does the society need some means to protect children and inexperienced young people from predators? YES! But current methods based on simple prosecution after the fact are failures! Did the law prevent two educated,intelligent men from committing a repugnant crime? No! Will it the next time? No! Did the law… Read more »
Do you mean persecution or prosecution? BK
It’s both isn’t it?
Ken-I’m not sure about what Bourne really did to this girl, but Walker deserves to rot in jail and stay away from my kids.
According to Bourne’s taped confession reported via keyt.com he had sexual relations with the victim six times during 2010.
Please provide this link to a claim of taped confession.
what report do claim to have read. Are you referring to the criminal complaint?
Suggestion: The legal process has come to an end on Andrew Bourne. Those involved did what they do by rule of law. They did not claim that their allegations were final since the defendant died and could not proceed to trial. End of story. Form your own views based on… Read more »
suggestion, How about you and other members of the press do their jobs and ask the questions that we the layman do not have the ability to ask.
Then we the public won’t make conjecture. .
Fed Up, If you’re referring to our media, we did our job and provided all of the information that authorities will provide.
What more would you like to know? We’re always happy to ask. Benett Kessler
If you read the officiall report, Dr. Bourne admitted to sexual activities with the the girl about six times in 2010
Report what report. You mean the criminal complaint against Walker. You simpletons you just accept anything that is written without question! This is why we have a legal system and we are innocent until proven guilty. And to the media and Benetts comment “we did our job and provided all… Read more »
Dear Fed Up, I suggest you go get your news somewhere else if you don’t like how we do it. If you can get rid of your anger for a minute, consider that there are ways to cover news that you know nothing about. Reporters talk to people on and… Read more »
“Denial” ain’t just a river in Egypt…
Well, for at least two years there will be one less sexual predator out and about in the community of Mammoth Lakes. I’d say that’s a benefit, albeit a short one. I am also firmly of the belief that sexual predators are NEVER truly rehabilitated and can not be truly… Read more »
Ken, Andrew Bourned chose not to stick around to even allow the justice system to even begin to do their duties. Thus the justice system and law had no chance to succeed or fail in this case and your point is completely moot. Please stop holding the justice system responsible… Read more »
Ken, unless you’ve got a Tom Cruise, Minority Report, future-telling-machine packed away in that same closet you’ve been sticking your head in, I think we’ll stick with prosecuting/persecuting criminals after the fact. By questioning the effectiveness of our legal system and repeating to pose your question of societal benefit, you… Read more »
This whole incident reminds me of the Tiger Woods fiasco. The morning after thanksgiving a good portion of faith based thinkers thought there is no way Tiger would do such a thing but the majority of people who I know that think with common sense and actual scientific reasoning knew… Read more »
Ask any cop and they will tell you that almost no criminal gets busted on his/her first time and most always the bust happens after the perp gets over confident. It’s just not likely that this one girl was the first and only victim of these two and possibly their… Read more »
This story is starting to remind me of a bad south park episode.
I still find it hard to believe the ski area put on that service…. At this point I wish they would fire Rusty and ship him out of town. To the suck ups your just as bad as Rusty.
Jake- I’m not trying to stick up or as you say” suck up” for Rusty or Dr.Bourne. Bournes family suffered more than I can imaging and they had every right to have a service where ever they wanted. I still think it is a sad day when people use this… Read more »
Jake – The point that maybe you are missing is that these two men not only perfectly fit the profile of a pedophile – it turns out that they were actually admitted pedophiles. More than likely their pedophilia was not a secret to everyone they knew, people they were related… Read more »
How does the $30k Rusty spent on the memorial for Dr. Bourne sound now? Money well spent? The Dr. was actually guilty. $30k MMSA might have used to save a job or 2 out of the 75 that got whack……does this bother any other MVP holder? Shouldn’t Starwood Capital look… Read more »
I can’t stand the way Rusty has been acting as a CEO, but I don’t think all these comments about him on this subject are right. Funerals and wakes are for the living. In this case , more victims of Joe Walker. I see no reason to ambush Rusty for… Read more »
And,once again,a poster saying Dr. Bourne is a victim….This post,and another saying the good doctor was sucked into this situation by Joe Walker..That along with a post a while back saying the young girl “took advantage” of the doctor…and kind of blaming her parents for allowing it to happen..Bottom line,and,hopefully,the… Read more »
Dr. Bourne admitted to having sex with an underage girl…..and Mammoth Mountain “celebrates his life.” The suicide was an admission of guilt from the get go.
Read the complaint: Bourne Guilty of multiple acts. Good thing Mammoth threw him a party! Not
Funny I did not see anywhere in the documents that Bourne was Guilty of anything. There are claims of such. The charges were dropped. Leave the dead guy alone. Bourne while alive was never charged with actually having sex with the girl. Don’t ya think if it was fact that… Read more »
It is interesting how psychopaths (pedifiles) gravitate to each other and work together to achieve a common goal. They naturally gravitate to areas of society that involve children such as schools. Both men were active in the community and with the mammoht school district. Pedifiles also tend to train their… Read more »
“something like this happens once in a lifetime, we need to take it to the next level….and go to prison for five years.” The poor soul is gone but his victim(s) remain. I am tired of the effort for all those who supported him to exonerate him. He, according to… Read more »
Well, that’s that. However I don’t think 5 yrs is nearly enough.
Walker admits guilt. Bourne admits guilt. Wonder how Rusty feels now about that party at Canyon? It would be interesting to get feedback from all the other Borne supporters, especially those with children.
I wonder, will Rusty throw a “Going Away” party for Joe Walker?
Prisoners love kiddie diddlers good luck Joe
If I were the doctors in mammoth, I would remove Bourne’s name from their non profit. I would never give money or support to a group honoring a pedophile that had sex with a very young girl!
Let’s just call it a day and hopefully those sily docs in mammoth will stop calling their late colleague their “best friend.” I hope they realized that people will think twice about you and the the people you surrounded yourself with. You’ve got your own kids to look after and… Read more »
I think forty years would be more like it. Twenty for Joe and twenty for Andrew.
@Trouble – got off easy? He’s likely to spend five years in a state prison with other men thinking he’s the new candy. As a registered sex offender he will not be allowed near the schools to attend his children’s performances, graduations, etc. What he did was awful, no way… Read more »
MeadowGal- I really do respect your opinion on our prison system. If he denied he did this I would be the first to defend his rights. But there are only a few crimes that I would consider worse than what he admitted he did. Men are supposed to protect women… Read more »
He is from a family of wealth, he’ll do five years at a club fed with painted lines as fences.
No performances,no graduations,no school functions…and a branded sex offender for the rest of his life..and 5 years in prison to boot..maybe should have thought about that in between all those e-mails,visits and “other things” he had going on with a 14 year old girl.And you are right saying he won’t… Read more »
Neither of these men are Pedophiles they are Ephebophiles. There is a big difference between the 2. Neither are good but one is MUCH worse then the other. Not to excuse him, 5 years is light for corrupting a young girl and pawning off a girl to his friend. However… Read more »
Lets tally it up — one good man who did a bad thing is dead, his children left fatherless, his wife in Hell. Another man’s life destroyed permanently without chance for redemption. The invisible third person humiliated in the public media and emotionally scarred for life at such a young… Read more »
Society as a whole did benefit from this prosecution…IMO…..The World IS a better place when 2 grown men aren’t out there,in the public,preying off young girls.Please don’t try to say Law Enforcement,and our Government should turn their backs when anyone breaks the law in a way these 2 men did.
I’m not saying, if they are guilty, that they should go free or be slapped on the hand, or what ever, I’m just pointing out all of the hate I see here, a lot of hate and misery and pre judgement, accusations, and hints of foul play by the DA,… Read more »
It sounds like you are saying that it is ok to have sex with an underage girl.
Yes amen Ken .. the disgustingness of it all this is high and mighty pius mentality that runs rampant. Yeah they might have done something wrong, and the child .. may have played right along, or might have played them right along. The parents of the victim .. they also… Read more »
I can tell you how the arrest and prosecution of these two men as made the world a better place: the next time a grown man in this town wants to follow through with destroying the life of a child, boy or girl -and you can pick any age you… Read more »
Ken-normally I agree with you on most issues,but not on this subject. As a father and a brother I don’t think this guy should be allowed to walk the streets for a long time. His crimes are against a little girl. This was no accident .
Seriously?! Laws are in place for a reason, Ken. If everyone is allowed to break them with no consequence we will live in a world of utter chaos. Your ignorance of this fact speaks volumes about you. No need to worry, your friend will serve less than five years and… Read more »
The above note by Mr. Ken Warner is joke, RIGHT? Is this the same Ken Warner that has been desperately trying to have the Mammoth Yosemite Airport Director, Bill Manning, Tar’d and Feather’d for over three years? All for doing a job well done in bringing Commercial Air Service to… Read more »
Seems your pseudonym is apt. And you are making up lies about me in a public forum about a whole other issue — I suppose for your own benefit — which I believe is libel. Did you even read what I said? I posed the question: was this the best… Read more »
Ken…..What do you think is the “best way” this bad situation should have been delt with?….just curious…..
Good and reasonable question. I don’t know. But looking at the poison posts on this blog and the emotions of the people who post them — there has got to be a better way. A more quiet, private way that really does protect the victim from further harm and assures… Read more »
Covering up the unpleasant in any community is not better. The purpose of media is to show people who they are and what their town is. We can observe these negative things, ponder them and perhaps take some type of action in our own lives for the good. That is… Read more »
So I am wondering when You Benett or for that manner any other news agency is going to challenge or obtain any proof that Bourne actually confessed to these allegations. Was this recorded or is this just hearsay? If this is just hearsay then it worthless conversation. You cannot trust… Read more »
The information used for our story included the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s amended complaint against Joe Walker and a Plea Bargaining form and statement by Joe Walker. The information about Bourne’s admission to police was included in the complaint as relating to the conspiracy to commit a crime charge lodged… Read more »
“These documents are not actually hearsay. The statements and charges are the result of investigation and witnessed admissions. ” The claims made against Bourne are not from any quotes or Emails, The claim is from a statement claimed by an investigator that might not be recorded says he heard. How… Read more »
fed up, you say “Walker claims he tried to coerce Bourne”. But you don’t seem to acknowledge the contents of the e-mails from Walker and the victim. “I promise I will be supportive in your endeavors, even if it’s continuing the physical relations with Bourne.” “You told me I should… Read more »
Ken I agree with you in your thoughts for the most part, yes it is all ugly and so many things like this get hyped by the media, it is aweful to see. These things should be brought to light. I do feel that way about it, but unfortunately, as… Read more »
Big Al, I don’t know what media you’re talking about. Certainly some of the tabloid media and even LA TV get into what seems like ridiculous detail about personal tragedies. None of the media in the Eastern Sierra went to that extreme in the Bourne story. We reported the facts,… Read more »
Benett … lol .. I wasn’t referring to you or any source in particular, but the media at large. I would have named names either way, whether good or bad, right or wrong.
Are you serious? Please tell me you don’t really feel this way? 1). Walker CONFESSED. He did it. Period. He is the one that ruined his own life. No one else did it to him. 2). Bourne made a choice to take his own life. His children are fatherless by… Read more »
Ken, I respect your opinion. But you are so blindly off base and out of line it would be a losing effort for anyone to debate sensibly with you. It would be like trying to describe colors to the blind. You make the same ridiculous arguments that 100% of criminal… Read more »
To view this rejoinder with a little perspective — you should all know that he’s making up the part where he says, “To refer to this as “one little mistake” as you have, is dangerously naive.” I never said that in any way. That’s yet another lie for the every… Read more »
Ken, You seem to throw the word liar around a lot, you also talk about everyone poisoning our community. Why don’t you just turn your great powers of perception on yourself? Why don’t you reassess some of your prior responses and posts? Why do you think that even the most… Read more »
There’s a lot of truth to your criticisms of me. I do get overly hostile. My flaw. I’m feeling this episode strongly because of my experience with Bourne and my disbelief that he could do something so ugly and stupid. I was in denial for a long time. Until I… Read more »
Well Ben, I hammered Ken too once over something I saw a dig to the community, maybe I am wrong, maybe he meant it in a joking way, maybe I was right on in what I perceived. But I could see early on in this thread, that he had genuine… Read more »
@Ken: It must be incredibly difficult for you right now reading about the man who saved your life….I get it….NOTHING makes sense right now….and it hurts at such a deep level that it feels like the pain will never end……give it time…..maybe just try to not talk about it or… Read more »
Thank you. Conflicted and torn are barely adequate descriptions of how I feel about Bourne. I have a scar on my stomach that is my daily reminder that he saved me from a lingering, painful death. He was a good man to me and hundreds if not thousands of others… Read more »
Amen Ken
Ken. That was Bourne’s profession. He was just a surgeon. Not God. Regardless of his profession and how he preformed it, his behavior across the board concerning this entire situation depicts a man of absolutely zero character. An intelligent and caring man of responsible character does not choose to put… Read more »
Well, I guess that says it all. Guilty, by his own admission.
Disgusting all the way around. I really want to add other comments, but won’t because this is finally over and its time to close this black eyed chapter.
Bourne and Walker: Disgusting humans. Walker’s only redemption is that he spared the girl and her family the horrors of a trial. Bourne on the other hand, a total coward. Someday, the whole truth will come out. Stories have already leaked about the 3-way suicide pact. A pact that only… Read more »
Yeah go ahead and throw the stones Bonzai .. sounds like you can. Squeaky clean?
In five years Walker will be out, the victim will be over 18 and they can run off together.
It’s happened before. Glad it’s over for now.
I’m usually real liberal on punishments. But Joe walker got off easy on these crimes.
That was the DA’s choice. Mr. Walker was wise to take the DA’s offer. Probably the best choice for everyone involved. He wouldn’t have got of so easy if he was convicted on all 21 counts.
case closed, move along.
HE WILL BE out in 2 years due to prison overcrowding.
So did Bourne. What a coward.
In my opinion, this should end any doubts.
That’s funny, the story is finally out and no comments? Interesting……. How’s that saying go. In time truth will tell all….
WOW!!!!…suprised this happened…It shows what a solid case this Santa Barbara D.A. had against this guy…and probably Dr. Bourne too…When I first seen the story,I figured some type of plea deal to avoid prison time…not so….So much for the speculation about the “witch hunt” D.A.Barron had for these “fine” citizens… Read more »
Well I always felt that Walker was guilty in some way. I also felt that somehow Walker pulled Bourne into this . What I cannot believe is that Bourne confessed to a police investigator. I think that part is a figment of the imagination of the Santa Barbara Police. Bourne… Read more »
“Walker pulled Bourne into this”
omg Mammoth Residedent now he’s a victim?
You just might be the poster child of what’s wrong with this Country
Guaranteed that said “figment” is on tape…
I agree I do not think Bourne said a thing, I feel he knew about it, but I do not think he would put his family and career and loose it all, I feel he thought that they would just nail him, seen the justice system work in this town,… Read more »
Oh and lets go into the officals computers and see what there up to, there halo is bending.
Interesting how the haters are out there..where were the parents???????? Give me a break, I think there will be more crap about Dr. Borne..all u haters there are two stories two be told WHERE WERE THE PARENTS????????TELLME?????Yeah right who gives permission for an underage child to go anywhere, I cell… Read more »
Bishopmammoth27…..You are right in asking why the girl’s parents did not keep a closer eye on their daughter….and did not know of the E-mails.Surely,they had to know of all those visits to Mammoth Lakes…But even if they did know of them….even if they knew what these 2 grown men were… Read more »
There’s nothing wrong with running plates. LEO’s could turn up a stolen vehicle or a dangerous felon on the run. I wish the forest service would do the same thing with snowmobiles. Instead they’re just looking for out of date green stickers or no green stickers so they can write… Read more »
I agree w/ your first sentence.
Then I read further… I hope you get popped. Then you would be the “silly” and “dumb” one.
Typical rowdy,out of control off-roader….not only screwing up the land with their “guy-guy” sport of impressing their guy friends,but finding ways to work the system and get away with what they can get away with…and then call others “silly” and “dumb”.Just remember…switching tags on a vehicle can get you in… Read more »
I wouldn’t post my evil ways if I didn’t want the forest service to step up their green sticker varification proceedures. Their current effort is nothing more then a knee jerk. Who knows how many stolen vehicles they’d recover if they actually verified registrations. Right or wrong, currently the jokes… Read more »
Mammoth Resident….Your post imply’s that Walker somehow forced Dr. Bourne into the situation he was in…and you seem to say the Santa Barbara Police were lying about the confession from Dr. Bourne..But your last sentence is what I don’t get at all…Dr.Bourne had a chance to defend himself from the… Read more »
The Poor sole is dead. Why the DA needs to bash him further I don’t get it. Maybe he’s guilty we don’t know. I just find it hard to believe that Bourne confessed to police instead of Lawyering up. I am no lawyer and I know not to confess like… Read more »
Whether he admitted it or not, it’s a heck of alot easier to believe that he chose his alternative to “lawyering up” due to the fact that he felt it was his best option. Sooner or later his emails will be leaked and those of you in our pleasant little… Read more »
Yeah and all the negatives are from those who are int he polie or have other intentions, I have talked abotu this with so many people to small of towns, and everything just does not add up..so give us who seem to think, and negative… I agree somthing is fishy… Read more »
Maybe the police could release the recording of his interview for us???