For Immediate Release
DATE: 02/21/2007

NATURE UNEARTHS EVIDENCE OF CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN THAT OCCURED BETWEEN 1965 AND 1986

Sierra Vista, Ariz. – Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge John E. Lewis, announced today the arrest of Walter C. Stevens, age 81, charged with possessing a videotape, that had been produced outside the State of Arizona, depicting Stevens engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor female.

In August 2006, several videotapes were unearthed by seasonal rains that opened up an area about 35 feet deep and 3 feet wide around a septic tank. The tapes were found by a resident who provided the tapes to the Sierra Vista Police Department. Because the tapes appeared to contain sexually explicit material depicting minor children and an adult male, Sierra Vista PD contacted the FBI and a joint investigation ensued.

After the tapes were repaired and enhanced by the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, it was confirmed that the tapes did depict female minors engaged in sexual activity with an adult Caucasian male. The adult male depicted in the videos was identified as being Walter C. Stevens, who resided in the area for over twenty years and who had managed the property where the tapes were found. Approximately one year earlier, Stevens attempted to erase the tapes with a magnet and then threw them into the septic hole where they were later recovered.

Investigation revealed that two of the videos were produced by Stevens when he resided in Japan between 1965 and 1975 and depicted Stevens engaged in sexual activity with minor Japanese females; one believed to be as young as five or six years old. Other images were produced between 1975 and 1980 while Stevens resided in Korea and depicted Stevens engaged in sexual activity with Korean females believed to be 11 to 13 years of age. Additional images were produced by Stevens between 1980 and 1986 in Thailand depicting him engaged in sexual activity with a Cambodian female believed to be 13 or 14 years of age.

Stevens turned himself into the FBI after being informed that he would be charged earlier today. Stevens, at the age of 81, faces up to ten years imprisonment and lifetime probation if convicted of one charge in violation of knowingly and intentionally possessing any visual depiction that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, and which were produced using materials which had been mailed and shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, by any means, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This investigation was worked jointly by the FBI and the Sierra Vista Police Department. The prosecution will be handled by Judson Mihok, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona. Stevens will have his first federal court appearance today, February 21, 2007, at 2:00 p.m., in Tucson, Arizona.