Man arrested in sex sting charged with rape

MISSOULA (AP) — A Hamilton man who was arrested late last year after responding to an online ad offering sex with a 12-year-old girl in Missoula is now charged with raping his girlfriend’s young daughters in Helena.

Justin Gale Walker, 28, appeared in Justice Court in Lewis and Clark County on Monday on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. His bail was set at $100,000. 

The two girls, ages 7 and 8, said Walker had been coming into their bedrooms and touching them inappropriately.

Walker was one of seven people arrested in December after responding to an online ad posted by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that purported to be from a woman who had a 12-year-old relative available for sex. 

Walker was arrested on Dec. 19 when he arrived at the house where the task force was conducting its sting. He was charged with sexual abuse of children and posted a $25,000 bond in January.

Walker was charged in March with violating an order of protection in Hamilton and posted a $28,000 bond in that case, court records said.

After the Helena arrest, Missoula County prosecutors filed a petition to revoke Walker’s release and requested his bail be set at $250,000.