Jim Walters Trial: Reactions in Mehlville and Oakville

See what your neighbors are saying about the end of the trial for former Point Elementary principal Jim Walters.

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Jim Walters Acquitted on Lewd and Indecent Conduct Charge

Jim Walters, the former principal of Point Elementary School, was found not guilty.

Jim Walters Acquitted on Lewd and Indecent Conduct Charge

Jim Walters, the former principal of Point Elementary School, was found not guilty.

Last updated 4:11 p.m. - With comment from the school district Jim Walters, the former Point Elementary principal facing a citation for lewd and indecent conduct, is not guilty, the judge in the case decided today. 'Like' Mehlville-Oakville Patch on Facebook for more breaking news alerts. In his judgement, Judge Joseph Murphy questions the veracity of the park ranger who originally accused Walters. (Read the full judgement as a PDF in the media section of this article.) "This sole witness in this case did not provide clear, convincing and unrefuted testimony," Murphy said, adding later that he could not side with the City's case without the testimony of "an experienced, well-trained officer who presents consistent and credible evidence of …

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Video Evidence Presented at Point Ex-Principal's Trial

The trial for Jim Walters, accused of lewd and indecent conduct, convened Tuesday.

Video Evidence Presented at Point Ex-Principal's Trial

The trial for Jim Walters, accused of lewd and indecent conduct, convened Tuesday.

After months of delays, the trial of Jim Walters, the former Point Elementary School principal who was issued a lewd and indecent conduct citation in March, finally convened earlier this week. Judge James Wahl, the judge originally assigned to Walters’ case, was still sick, so the case was transferred to Judge Joseph Murphy, who has not yet announced a verdict. At the trial, Walters’ attorney Neil Bruntrager presented surveillance video evidence he said contradicts the accusation of lewd and indecent behavior by a Forest Park park ranger. A motion-activated surveillance camera on the upper Muny parking lot was pointed at the location where park ranger Timothy McGarrity said Walters met and talked with a man in a car after Walters had …

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Kathy Meyer

4:56 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Agree, Steve. Destroyed a life in the process.   more ›

Former Principal's Trial Delayed Due to Judge's Illness

Jim Walters will have to wait until September for resolution.

Jim Walters Trial Delayed Due to Judge's Illness

The former Point Elementary School principal will have to wait until September for resolution.

In a case of pure bad luck, Jim Walters' trial is delayed again because the judge is sick, Walters' attorney Neil Bruntrager told Patch.  Walters was scheduled to appear in front of Judge James Wahl at the St. Louis municipal courthouse Tuesday afternoon.  Walters, the former principal of Point Elementary School, was issued a lewd and indecent conduct citation March 16 from a park ranger at Forest Park in St. Louis. The ranger "observed subject Walters grab his genitals while talking to a man in a vehicle who later confessed to what was happening," he stated in the ticket. The judge's earliest available time is now Sept. 25, Bruntrager said. The trial has been rescheduled for that day.  Bruntrager requested another judge so the trial could…

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Jim Walters Trial Delayed Until August

The former Point Elementary School principal was due in court on Thursday, but the trial has been continued.

There’s still no resolution for Jim Walters, the former Point Elementary School principal who was issued a lewd and indecent conduct citation in March.  Walters was due in court Thursday, but because of a scheduling conflict with the courts, the trial was moved to Aug. 14. On March 16, Walters was issued a lewd and indecent conduct citation from a park ranger at Forest Park in St. Louis. The ranger "observed subject Walters grab his genitals while talking to a man in a vehicle who later confessed to what was happening," he stated in the ticket. Walters denies all wrongdoing, Bruntrager said. He wouldn't comment beyond that. "I firmly believe that he'll be completely vindicated in this matter," he said in April. The Mehlville school board …

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nancy fletcher

5:46 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

Maybe because Mr Walters has made a connection to our community during his time here at Point. I for one and many others I believe continue to care about him and his family and want to believe in his innocence unless and until he is PROVEN guilty of anything inappropriate. I dont wish any sensational built up news reports just the facts as they occur in court. Praying for Jim and his family that …   more ›

Updated: New Principal Hired at Point Elementary; Walters No Longer Employed by District

The school board voted Thursday to terminate Walters' contract. Dr. Dan Gieseler comes to Mehlville from Ballwin Elementary School in the Rockwood School District, where he was an assistant principal.

Updated at 10 a.m.  The Mehlville school board voted unanimously in a closed meeting Thursday to terminate Point Elementary School Principal Jim Walters' employment with the district.  The board hired Dr. Dan Gieseler as the principal of Point Elementary School for the 2012-2013 school year.  On March 16, Walters was issued a lewd and indecent conduct citation from a park ranger at Forest Park in St. Louis City. The ticket said the ranger "observed subject Walters grab his genitals while talking to a man in a vehicle who later confessed to what was happening." Walters was placed on paid administrative leave March 26 and in May, Knost said the principal would not return to Point.  Neither Board President Venki Palamand nor the …

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