BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 8, 2025, to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, Walker was driving a vehicle through the New River Gorge National Park area near Sandstone, West Virginia when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana, and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle told the officer there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.
The passenger provided the officer with the marijuana. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. During the search, the officer found a brown briefcase containing a loaded Rossi .38 Special revolver, a holster, and .38 Special ammunition. After the officer found the firearm, Walker left his ordered position next to the officer’s vehicle and approached the officer. When the officer told him to turn around to be handcuffed, Walker drew back his fist and struck the left side of the officer’s body. The officer deployed a taser to stop Walker.
Walker has a long criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for first-degree theft, multiple controlled substances offenses, and third-offense driving while intoxicated.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
