Walt Devault is an active Realtor with Big Canoe Realty. He was charged, arrested, arraigned and indicted for the molestation of a 10 year old girl in 2016. He was finally arrested in May 2019. He was allowed to bond out for a mere $30,000 and was fitted with an ankle monitor (gps tracker) and was allowed to resume his activities as a Realtor. In 2020 Walt Devaults’s Bond conditions were lowered even further, with the removal of his requirement to be monitored. In 2021 he was allowed to move to South Carolina, where he primarily lives today in a family apartment complex, completely unmonitored, NOT on any Sex Offender Watchlist, and still practicing real estate (has 5 current listings) using his Big Canoe Brokerage active license.
Let s look at some of the filed details of Walt Devault’s indicted charges (Cherokee County Criminal Case: 19CR0878). Here are some highlighted quotes that pretty much sum it up. Walt Devault did “commit an immoral and indecent act” by “placing said child’s hand on his penis”; and “touching said child on her breasts and buttocks”; and “kissing said child on the mouth”. The “child” was 10 years old at the time. Walt Devault was a friend of the family. If all of this wasn’t bad enough, Walt Devault was further charged with Cruelty to a Child for “threatening her not to tell anyone about what they did together. Walt told *child* he would take her away and she would never see her parents again. *Child* has had severe nightmares and anxiety which brought about the disclosures.”
Hard to believe nobody knew in Big Canoe. It is clear that nobody said anything if they did know. Walt is the epitome of a respectable Big Canoe To-doer: Good looking, well spoken, well dressed, international traveler, golfer, and fits into all the right social circles. Nobody that knew seemed to care enough that he was accused of one of the most heinous crimes you can commit in a civilized society, to share that information publicly. To all intents and purposes…. Walt Devault is still the very picture of Elite High Society that Big “To-do” Canoe loves to paint itself as..
Only in Big Canoe…. a place that for decades has swirled in rumors of elite, high society, wife swapping sex parties, child rings, etc. I do know that over a decade ago I am the one that busted the story of local youth minister, Sam Rothermel. After hearing rumors of homosexual activity on an overnite Boy Scout trip he led, I confronted the regional Boy Scout Director, who was aware of the allegations. I threatened publicicity if the situation was not reported to law enforcement (according to mandatory reporting procedure). All I know is that several months later, after an investigation into Sam Rothermel, he was arrested and charged with Crimes involving a Minor. The case was sealed. No further details were forthcoming. He was allowed to quit his position as Youth Minister at the Big Canoe Chapel, and he moved out of the country to Costa Rica. Only in Big Canoe does this behavior get you a glowing public farewell and best wishes sendoff, which Sam got. (And let’s not forget the convicted and subsequently imprisoned child molester that used to work the Chapel and Swim Club, teaching little children about “arts and crafts”. I will save the story that I was told – from what I considered to be a very credible source – about Reverend Jimmy Allen and the Swinger’s Orgy for another time I guess.)
One of the similarities between Sam Rothermel and Walt Devault that I have often wondered about was their fondness for extensive International Activities and Travel involving Youth and Youth Groups. 3rd World Youth are often a target for predators that masquerade as “good Christian Missionaries”. Walt also is known as a “Good Christian”, a member of prayer groups, and Missionary work. One person has told me stories of Walt’s time serving as a Missionary in the Middle East, where he “helped” poor little Iraqi girls. Big Canoe has a lot of this activity, and one can only hope that a watchful eye is kept open for wolves in the sheepfold. That is hard to do when you try and speak up, or give warning, about issues regarding youth and are censored by local FB Admins (like Tina Marie Myer), or are actively targeted for censorship within the community by persons like the Big Canoe Events Coordinator, Teri Sawyer. But the “good people” in Big Canoe haven’t stopped at mere censorship in their attempts to maintain their pristine elitist reputation…. Alas, when I have tried to shine light on certain activities in the past….. I (and my family) have been censored, and I have been actively attacked (falsely), and had stories manufactured against me (falsely), as the insiders sought to deflect attention from their sins, and the sins of those around them. It’s all just one big coverup in Big “To-do” Canoe…..putting lipstick on a very ugly, and sometimes dangerous, pig.
In case no one has noticed, I am not easily intimidated, nor put off my track. I have a new “Anonymous Tipline” protocol that guarantees anonymous communication that is even protected against Discovery from Legal Challenges. Several people have expressed interest in supplying information if I can guarantee anonymity. I can, and I do. Details at the following page: https://bigcanoe.themountainsvoice.com/tipline/ . I am extremely interested in any information that can be provided regarding all of the swirling rumors in Big Canoe, especially any that may be involving children. And of course tips regarding the standard Financial and other governance hanky-panky that goes on with the Board / GM etc is always welcome as well.
Another point regarding Walt Devault’s case…. the way this was handled by Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney Randall J Ivey, Judge Anthony Baker, and Walt’s Defense Attorney Scott Poole is disgraceful. Defense Attorney Scott Poole used to be the Cherokee County Assistant D.A. before he monetized all of his insider experience to switch sides and focus on defending people like Walt Devault. Randall Ivey took Poole’s position as Assistant D.A. There is subsequently an uncomfortably close relationship between those two attorneys, and a pathetically pampering judge…. that has resulted in Walt Devault being allowed to slowly erode almost all of the most protective Bond Conditions that were placed on him, leaving a potential predator roaming our communities unmonitored for years.
While Walt Devault roams free and unmonitored, the child is now 15 years old, and lives under the constant shadow of a future court case in which she may have to face Walt Devault again. And for the record, they failed to seal the juvenile records and this poor child’s name was easily accessible to the public (I have tried to make sure that was corrected before this article was released). This was also on Assistant DA Randall Ivey’s watch – and went contrary to procedure that requires a child’s information to be sealed or redacted. On a positive note, they have a firecracker of a new Assistant D.A. (Katie Gropper) that has this case now, and she specializes in putting away people like Walt Devault. After 5+ years it is time that this case gets some closure, and gets to trial. We can only hope that this case gets the public recognition it deserves.
I encourage everyone to contact the District Attorney’s Office and demand swifter action in this case: https://www.cherokeega.com/District-Attorneys-Office/contact-us.php
Lastly, I found Walt Devault’s Facebook Page interesting. Especially the Cover Picture. It has 48 “Likes”. One “Like” name really stood out to me. It isn’t surprising that these two are FB friends. I am told they have similar interests.
Prayers for the child, her family, even the many collateral victims within Walt Devault’s family. Special Prayers of encouragement, strength and support for new Prosecutor Katie Gropper that she find a way to cut through the red tape, lack of resources and court system attorney trickery…. to get this to trial and eventually to a true and just result. Prayers also for all the young children still suffering silently through hidden or ongoing abuse.
Peace,
– david / publisher
Focus on Big Canoe, GA
* a publication of The Mountains Voice
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