Muskogee County, Oklahoma — An Oklahoma mother has been sentenced to seven consecutive life terms in prison after a jury found her guilty of enabling child sexual abuse and neglecting her 11-year-old daughter, who gave birth to a full-term baby at the family’s home without receiving prenatal care or medical assistance.
Muskogee County District Judge Timothy King handed down the sentence on Friday, following the jury’s recommendation in July. The defendant, 34-year-old Cherie Dawn Walker, was convicted of one count of enabling child sexual abuse and six counts of child neglect.
The case began attracting attention after authorities learned in 2025 that the young girl had delivered a baby inside the family’s Muskogee County home. Investigators later established through DNA testing that the child’s stepfather, Dustin Joel Walker, was the biological father of the infant.
Oklahoma Mother Receives Seven Consecutive Life Sentences
The sentence against Cherie Walker follows a jury decision that found her guilty on all seven counts. Prosecutors said the mother allowed her husband to sexually abuse her daughter and failed to protect the child during the pregnancy and delivery.
Judge Timothy King ordered seven life sentences to run consecutively, meaning the sentences are scheduled to be served one after another rather than at the same time.
The punishment matched the recommendation made by jurors in July.
The case involved allegations of prolonged child neglect, including the absence of prenatal medical care and the circumstances surrounding the child’s delivery.
Husband Also Sentenced to Life in Prison
Cherie Walker’s husband, Dustin Joel Walker, had already received a life sentence after pleading guilty earlier in 2026 to one count of sexual abuse of a child under 12 and six counts of child neglect.
Judge King sentenced him to life in prison plus an additional 42 years. Under the court’s order, he must serve the 42-year term before beginning his life sentence.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender, remain under supervision if ever released and have no contact with his victims.
DNA testing played an important role in the investigation. Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson previously said the results established a 99% certainty that Dustin Walker fathered the infant.
Investigation Began After 11-Year-Old Gave Birth at Home
Authorities began investigating the family in 2025 after learning that the couple’s then-11-year-old daughter had delivered a full-term baby inside their home in Muskogee County.
According to prosecutors, the child had received no prenatal care or medical assistance before giving birth.
The circumstances raised serious concerns about how the pregnancy went unnoticed by adults responsible for the child’s safety.
Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson challenged claims that the adults in the household did not know the girl was pregnant. She pointed out that although the child was relatively petite, she delivered a normal-sized baby.
“This child is traumatized. She’s been through a horrific ordeal,” Hutson previously said in an interview with Tulsa CBS affiliate KOTV.
She also described the lasting impact of the abuse and the circumstances surrounding the birth, saying the child would have to live with the experience for the rest of her life.
Prosecutors Raised Concerns About the Child Being Out of School
Another important part of the investigation involved the girl’s education.
Hutson previously indicated that the child had been out of school for a period of time, potentially limiting opportunities for teachers and medical professionals to recognize signs of abuse or intervene.
“The child had been out of school for a period of time, and it is my understanding that children may have been homeschooled,” the prosecutor said.
The circumstances surrounding the child’s schooling became part of the broader questions raised by prosecutors about how the abuse and pregnancy remained undiscovered.
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Following the arrests in 2025, members of the family publicly denied knowing that the girl was pregnant.
Grandmother Previously Denied Knowing About Pregnancy
The victim’s maternal grandmother, Michelle Justus, previously spoke publicly about the case and denied that family members knew what was happening.
“I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening. None of us,” Justus told Tulsa NBC affiliate KJRH.
However, prosecutors maintained that the evidence demonstrated an extended period of neglect and supported the charges against Cherie Walker.
Justus is also facing one count of child neglect in connection with the case. Her trial, originally scheduled for July, has been postponed and is now set to begin on January 12, 2027, according to court records.
What Happens Next in the Oklahoma Case?
With Cherie Walker now sentenced to seven consecutive life terms and Dustin Walker already serving his sentence, attention is turning to the remaining proceedings involving the victim’s grandmother.
The upcoming January 2027 trial is expected to address the separate child neglect charge against Justus.
The case has involved multiple defendants, DNA evidence, allegations of prolonged neglect and serious questions about the circumstances that allowed an 11-year-old child to give birth without medical care.
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