By David Ruiz
druiz@sacbee.com
Amador County resident Johnny Irvin Walters was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child molestation, Amador County Sheriff officials said. Walters, 38, worked as a correctional officer at Mule Creek State Prison.
According to a news release, the Amador County Sheriff's Office received a report June 2 from the parents of a 14 year old girl claiming their daughter had been molested by Walters.
During the initial investigation, multiple sources informed detectives about Walters' tendency to host parties where minors were served alcohol. Detectives found photographs on social networking sites which verified the claims, the news release said.
Public information officer Jim Wegner said those who attended the parties were invited by a juvenile relative of Walters.
Two minors were interviewed, giving similar accounts of an incident in which Walters provided alcohol to the point of intoxication and passing out, the news release said. When the girls awoke, they said they were being sexually assaulted by Walters. The girls did not know one another.
A search warrant for Walters' residence was then issued, the news release said. In searching the residence, detectives found evidence that Walters had videotaped an underage girl while showering in his home.
Superior Court Judge Susan Harlan granted an arrest warrant with bail set at $40,000.
Walters, aware of his investigation, saw the warrant for his arrest online, Wegner said. He walked into the Amador County Sherrif's Office at their direction, and was arrested. His bail was then increased to $80,000.
The Sheriff's Office expects more individuals to come forward with more information as the investigation continues, Wegner said.
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