Walters Sentenced to Life

WALTERS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/30/2010 at 08:00:11

Bellevue Herald-Leader
October 24, 1985

Walters gets life term ‘Jury unfair’

By Tom Ryder
Eastern Iowa News Service

Ernest F. Walters Friday, Oct. 18th, was given a sentence of life in prison in the fatal shooting of prominent Jackson County farmer Robert Beck June 8.

Judge J. Hobart Darbyshire read sentences of not to exceed 25 years for each of four other charges. They are burglary and robbery in the first-degree, and two counts of kidnapping in the second-degree.

Walters said he would appeal the verdicts and was “sadly disappointed’ by the jury’s work. He said he would spend his incarceration writing songs, mostly country music numbers, with his guitar.

After the sentencing Judge Darbyshire explained that the 25-year terms will run concurrently. This could have a bearing since the governor can convert the life sentence to a term of years.

For example, Walters, 38, could get his sentence commuted after serving 10 years. The Parole Board could judge that 10 years was sufficient punishment on the other charges and Walters would be free.

Walters showed no emotion as the judge read the sentence for first-degree murder which is mandatory under Iowa law.

Afterward, he said, “it’s certainly a dismal day (it was dark and it was raining). It fits the sentence.”

Several members of the Beck family attended the brief court hearing.

They included Mildred, Beck’s wife, and daughters Cheryl, the former Walters girlfriend, and Sandra, Mrs. Melvin (Patty) Fuglsang, and Mrs. Richard (Jan) Rekemeyer.

They were confronted by several television newspersons with cameras in the hallway outside the courtroom but refused comment. The newspersons refused to yield the way for several tension-filled seconds, then the Becks turned slowly and went down a stairway to the courthouse basement where there are other exits.

Judge Darbyshire read the sentences one by one amid stark solemnity.

“…Murder in the first-degree…I commend you to the director of the Iowa Correctional Services for the rest of your life…”

Darbyshire then imposed sentences on the other charges. He said Walters will be taken to the Reception Center at Oakdale for processing.

Before the sentencing Darbyshire dismissed a motion for a new trial filed by Walters’ attorney, Mark Lawson.

Lawson argued that a kidnapping charge against Walters accusing him of abducting Ruth Corcoran of Mount Vernon was not connected to the Beck shooting. He said testimony from Corcoran “about alleged Walters’ mob and drug connections “tainted” the jury.

Lawson also argued that the “crux of the case was either the shooting was intentional or unintentional” and that Darbyshire had refused to include in the jury instructions an instruction that says an unintentional killing that occurs during a forcible felony does not constitute first-degree murder. Lawson said there was insufficient evidence of malice.

Darbyshire said the arguments were “…products of previous motions and nothing new is raised…”and that the arguments “were previously taken care of. I am persuaded that the motion for a new trial should be denied. “

Walters said the arguments were “…products of previous motions and nothing new is raised…” and that the arguments “were previously taken care of. I am persuaded that the motion for a new trial should be denied”

Walters said afterward that the Muscatine County jury “Was prejudiced from the outset.”

“All our motions were turned down and that gives us cause for our appeal. I had no chance for a fair trial in the Seventh Judicial District. It was the Beck’s backyard.

“I am hoping and praying that I eventually will receive a fair trial.

”I hope the Beck’s hatred subsides now.”

“I will miss my son very much.”

Walters referred to Elijah, 3, his and Cheryl Beck’s son. Walters contended it was Elijah he was after when he entered the Beck home early June 8.

Walters said he would spend his time in prison writing songs and playing his guitar.

“I let my songwriting slip the last few years but I have come a long way in the last four months, he said. “I’ve written 20 songs and I’ve sent them to Nashville (the country music capital) publishers.”

Walters said he has a business agent in Maquoketa that will manage his attempts to sell his songs.”

Walters said he got along “real good” with the Jackson County sheriff’s Department and was treated well by sheriff’s personnel.

Walters was taken to Oakdale after the sentencing.

He was accused of abducting Corcoran and using her car to get to the Beck farm south of LaMotte; breaking into the Beck home about 6:30 a.m. and shooting Beck and wounding Mildred and Sandra; then abducting Cheryl and Elijah and taking them on a flight to Missouri in the Beck car where he was arrested Monday morning, June 10. Corcoran was released earlier in Monticello.