Sommer Woodward
Walter Dale Oliphant Jr., 17, is being charged with first-degree rape and lewd molestation of a 9-year-old child.
Oliphant is being charged as a Youthful Offender, which means he will be facing adult criminal proceedings. Youthful offender is its own category and is reserved for juveniles which commit aggravated crimes. A youthful offender can be “bumped down” to a juvenile, sentenced as an adult, or kept as a youthful offender, which means they’re in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs explained Assistant District Attorney Becky Gore.
Langley Police Chief Gary Hitchcock said the child’s father called the police to report the allegations.
Two children were interviewed and
information from the investigation was turned over the district attorney’s office.
Charges were filed Friday, July 11, and a warrant was issued for Oliphant’s arrest.
He was taken into custody and held at the Sac and Fox Detention Center in Stroud with a $50,000 bond.
His next court date is the preliminary hearing sounding docket, July 24.
