Judge finds criminal who inspired three strikes law guilty on multiple counts

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In 1992, Douglas Walker was the accomplice in a robbery ending in the death of 18-year-old Kimber Reynolds.

He served a nine-year sentence and by the time he got out, Kimber's father had helped write the three strikes law, forcing life sentences for repeat offenders.

When Walker got out of prison on a theft case in 2013, I tried to ask him if he deserved his freedom.

"There ain't no talking," Walker said.

"He doesn't want to talk to you guys," a sister told us. "I mean, he's trying to live his life the best that he can, that's just the way it goes."

About three months later, police arrested Walker for beating up his girlfriend, Karrie Alvarado.

I tracked her down a couple days later and saw a big black eye before she closed the door on me.

Now on trial for the attack, Walker's defense attorney downplayed the injury.

"Now as far as black eyes are concerned, it's not a major black eye. I mean, the eyeball's not hanging out of the socket. There's nothing to suggest that the socket was somehow broken. It was just a black eye," said Walker's Defense Attorney Eric Green.

Alvarado died of a drug overdose before Walker went on trial, so she never testified.

But prosecutors used her initial statements to convince a judge walker was guilty of domestic violence.

That is not a strike, but they also had jail calls in which Walker talked to Alvarado.

"The defendant says to her 'you're going to tell them I didn't do it, so what's the big deal? You're going to get on the stand and tell them I didn't do it," said Prosecutor Kelly Smith.

Dissuading a witness is a strike, and Judge Kent Hamlin said Walker clearly tried to avoid justice.

"I need you to be gone because the DA will try to come and get you. That's why I need you to be gone.' So, again you have a clear intent to interfere with the orderly processes of the Court. You have a scheme developed by the two of them on how to beat the charge," said Kent.

Judge Hamlin found Walker guilty on three counts of dissuading a witness, giving him three new strikes.

Walker's maximum sentence when he's punished next month will be life in prison with no parole hearing for 102 years.

Mike Reynolds told me it is kind of a perverse Christmas present."

It cannot bring back his daughter, but it could make sure Walker finally stays in prison under the law motivated by her death.