Woman gets 4-8 years for fatal crash

Walter expresses remorse for accident that killed her son

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- An Altoona woman will serve four to eight years in jail for a 2016 vehicle crash that killed her 5-year-old son, Robbie Walter.

Christen E. Walter, 44, incarcerated almost a year ago when Altoona police charged her with homicide by vehicle while DUI and related charges, expressed remorse Thursday when she stood before Judge Elizabeth Doyle and asked for mercy.

"I would never want anybody to feel the pain in my heart, as a parent," Walter said.

Two years ago today, Walter crashed a 2007 Mitsubishi Gallant into a light pole along the 600 block of North Logan Boulevard. In October, she entered guilty pleas to 14 criminal charges including homicide by vehicle while DUI and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI.

A police investigation found Walter had methadone, amphetamine and lorazepam in her system as she was driving between 73 and 83 mph -- more than twice the speed limit -- en route to C.W. Longer Elementary School in Hollidays­burg.

Robbie, a kindergarten student at the school, was in the front seat of the car wearing a seat belt and was not in a required child safety seat. The family had a booster seat for Robbie, but it was in another car, attorney Kevin Abramovitz of Pittsburgh advised the judge on Walter's behalf.

An accident reconstructionist concluded that, had the child been in a booster seat, he would have survived, First Assistant District Attorney Pete Weeks told Doyle.

While Pennsylvania law sets a mandatory minimum sentence of three years for the homicide by vehicle while DUI conviction, Doyle had the option of imposing additional jail time.

Abramovitz told the judge that three years was sufficient to punish Walter and to serve as a deterrent.

"She will forever punish herself for this, regardless of what prison sentence the court imposes," Abramovitz said.

Weeks countered that additional jail time was warranted because Walter was driving without a license, failed to use a child safety seat and was "way over" the speed limit. Weeks also reported that, since Walter's incarceration a year ago, she has had two misconduct reports that included a positive drug test.

Doyle acknowledged Weeks' positions but opted to increase Walter's minimum sentence by adding 12 to 24 months for endangering the welfare of a child.

The victim in this case was a child who was completely dependent on an adult, Doyle said.

"He trusted her, and she betrayed that trust," the judge said.

After proceedings concluded, Weeks said he thought the judge came up with an appropriate sentence. Weeks also praised the investigating police officers, especially Lt. Jeffrey Pratt and Patrolman Andrew Crist of the Altoona Police Department, for outstanding work and a very thorough investigation.

Pratt said he pursued the prosecution with a sense of dread and a sense of duty.

"I had a duty to that little boy, to assess and assign blame," the lieutenant said.

Pratt, who was the second officer arriving at the crash site, said everyone "worked feverishly" to help the unconscious child. The boy died at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Abramovitz asked several relatives and friends to address Doyle on Walter's behalf. All asked the judge to be lenient and consider that Walter has a 3-year-old daughter who needs her mother.

"She's going to punish herself forever," family friend Joddie Huss said. "Let her go home to her little girl."

Faith Walter, Christen Walter's mother-in-law, also asked the judge for leniency. When Doyle asked Faith Walter how she felt about the loss of her grandson, Faith Walter, whose speech was broken by emotion, replied: "I really don't know how I feel about that." She also told the judge: "There's nothing you can do to bring little Robbie back."

Shirley Ickes, Christen Walter's mother, advised Doyle that her daughter "loved her kids more than life itself." After Doyle imposed the sentence, Ickes started to cry, prompting Walter to turn toward her and say: "I'll be all right, Mom."

Abramovitz said his client was prepared to be sentenced to a significant amount of jail time.

"It could have been much higher than the judge imposed," he said.

Abramovitz also praised the family members for their input.

"This is a family that has suffered an unspeakable tragedy, and it will take time to heal," he said. "But the family members were here to support her, and that says something."

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.