Recently, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles cannot be given life sentences unless a murder occurred. The ruling prompted courts throughout the nation to revisit cases of juvenile inmates facing life sentenced.

One of those individuals was Jere Walker, who at the age of 41, has spent the last 24 years in prison. Walker was 17 when he was sentenced to five life sentences.

Walker was the youngest member of a group who roamed the streets of Tampa on June 29, 1988, the group robbed former Hillsborough County Judge and State Attorney E. J. Salcines and his wife, at gunpoint as they and a friend was returning from dinner.

Salcines was injured as he attempted to fight off the attack. Walker allegedly stuck a gun in the face of oral surgeon Antonio Castro. The gun jammed when he tried to fire it.

Later that day, the group are said to have confronted a Texas couple, forced them into their motel room, and Walker allegedly sexually battered the woman. Her husband was held at gunpoint and her children were being held in the bathroom.

During an earlier hearing, Walker apologized for the pain he had caused. However, Judge Debra Behnke was not impressed with his apology and sentenced him to 100 years in prison. He was given two 30-year sentences for the robberies that must run consecutively. She also sentenced him to 40 years for two counts of sexual battery.