Woodstock Man, 71, Sentenced For Child Molestation: Report

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Woodstock man has been sentenced for child molestation of a 9-year-old girl, according to reports.

On March 2, Superior Court Judge Tony Baker sentenced Walter Gary DeVault, 71, formerly of Woodstock, to 40 years, with the first 15 years to be served in confinement in the state prison system.

Charges stem from allegations that DeVault molested a female child in Cherokee County when she was 9 and 10 years old. From 2016-2017, the defendant, who was a person trusted within the victim’s family, spent time alone with the child, taking her on outings. The defendant testified at trial that he considered the child his best friend and would often relay his unconditional love for her.

When the parents became concerned about DeVault’s relationship with their daughter, they cut off all contact with DeVault. He continued to contact her, even delivering her letters he had written, which included disparaging comments about the child’s parents.

Two years later, the child told a family member about the sexual abuse, explaining that she was afraid DeVault was going to come back to get her. In a forensic interview conducted by the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, the child said that the defendant had touched her, made her touch his genital area, and kissed her on the mouth.

During the investigation, it was determined that the defendant had been in contact with other little girls around the same age. At trial, two other witnesses came forward and described similar incidents that occurred with children outside of Cherokee County.

“Walt DeVault presents as charming and charismatic and was easily able to gain the trust of others," said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Katie Gropper of the Special Victims Unit, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the state. "The families in this case trusted him with their most precious gifts, their daughters. He used his position of trust to do sexually inappropriate things to a little girl in Cherokee County. When he lost his access to her, he sought out other little girls and began the process all over again."

At the sentencing hearing, the Cherokee County victim and her father provided victim impact statements to the court.

“I have experienced nightmares and post-traumatic stress,” the victim said in a prepared statement read during the hearing. “I cannot look at, smell, or hear certain things without getting scared and having anxiety. This has affected my daily life and has not only affected me but also my entire family. I now view all older men as creepy, and I am scared of what they will do.”

At the conclusion of the hearing, Baker sentenced DeVault to 40 years, with the first 15 years to be served in confinement in the state penitentiary and the remainder to be served on probation. Upon his release from prison, DeVault can have no contact with the victims or her family members, is banished from Cherokee County, and must adhere to sex offender special conditions.

“The victim in this case said that when she disclosed this abuse, she felt like a weight was lifted because someone finally knew. It’s heartbreaking to think of the anxiety and pain this child has endured, all because of the sick behavior of a man she once adored,” Wallace said. “Through this sentence, this defendant will likely spend the remainder of his life in prison, ensuring that no other little girls will suffer as this victim has suffered.”