BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Girl Scout troop co-leader was arraigned in Amherst Town Court on Friday morning, accused of sexually abusing two children.
Marty Walton, 31, already faces similar charges in Niagara County. Walton was arraigned in Niagara County Court at the end of May and charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged victims in that investigation are eight and nine years old. His wife, Shani Walton, was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. At that time, Amherst police were investigating other incidents possibly involving the Waltons.
Following the investigation in Amherst, Walton has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sex act, one count of first-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators say the abuse happened between March 27 and May 9 in Amherst.
It's unclear whether the two victims in the Amherst case and the Niagara County case are the same children or different children. Investigators have not said whether the children were members of Walton's Girl Scout troop.
Walton is being held without bail until his next court date, a felony hearing on July 10. If convicted of all charges, the maximum sentence is 25 years in prison.
A spokesperson from the Girl Scouts of Western New York released the following statement:
All of us at the Girl Scouts of Western New York want to express our concern for the two children and we want them to have the best-possible care and support. There is nothing more important to Girl Scouts than the safety and well-being of all children, and we take all such allegations very seriously. This is hugely distressing to us.”
Since the first arrests, we learned from North Tonawanda police that the reported abuse did not take place at a Girl Scout facility, or during Girl Scout activities.
Nonetheless, we continue to emphasize the rules and regulations involving adult-Girl Scout interactions, safety and well-being. The male troop co-leader passed thorough background checks in 2016 and again in October 2019. Both adults were immediately removed from all GSWNY activities May 29. We are conducting a rigorous internal investigation, reviewing our regulations, and continue to cooperate with law enforcement.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walton's case is still pending. A grand jury cannot be convened at this time. He is being held with no bail at the Erie County Holding Center.
