‘The legal system failed me’: Prosecutors drop rape charge; second victim emerges

Editor’s note: This article contains discussion of rape allegations and firearms from a victim’s perspective. The victim and her family member’s names are redacted to respect their privacy. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org for confidential support.

Another alleged victim emerging is a second opportunity for prosecutors to hold Three Forks resident Teagin Zane Walker, 18, accountable for rape.

A new open sexual intercourse without consent felony was filed against Walker on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after prosecutors modified the same charge against him from a different closed case. The prosecution deemed the initial argument too weak to stand trial.

Walker pleaded guilty to a lesser negligent endangerment misdemeanor, instead of the original felony, during a change of plea hearing in Gallatin County District Court on Tuesday.

Presiding Judge Peter B. Ohman said his hands were tied despite moving impact statements from 17-year-old victim “L.S.”, her mother, brother and pastor. Dismayed at the comparatively light sentencing, family members shed tears.

“It’s (a) negligent endangerment, and that can be from driving too fast on Main Street to throwing a snowball (at) somebody, hitting them in the head and giving them a black eye,” Ohman said.

In alignment with the plea, Ohman sentenced Walker to a one-year suspended sentence with time served for 75 days, a $250 fine and $125 in fees. The sentence includes Walker registering as a violent offender for 10 years and no contact with the victim.

Walker’s violent offender registration expires in 2036 if no additional criminal incidents occur within a decade, per court proceedings.

“If Mr. Walker had been convicted of sexual intercourse without consent, obviously I would have an opportunity to provide a very lengthy prison sentence,” Ohman said. “People think I have a lot more authority.”

The court doesn’t need to state its reasoning behind specific sentences for misdemeanor cases, per Ohman, who is also slated to preside over the new rape case against Walker, according to the court.

“The state has the authority, based on the separation of powers (on) what kind of cases (it) wants to pursue and what cases (it) wants to prosecute,” Ohman continued. “One of the primary policies in Montana is the punishment has to be commensurate between sentences; my sentence has to be the same as to other people who plead to the same offense.”

Ohman then addressed L.S. and her family from the bench.

“I understand you guys are extremely frustrated by what happened here, but I’m just limited with what I can do,” Ohman said. “Maybe if he would have pled to a misdemeanor sexual assault or something like that, then that’s obviously a more serious misdemeanor offense, and I could get on board with more of a heavy sentence.”

Per his plea, Walker admitted to negligently handling a firearm not belonging to him in the home of a peer’s parents during a July 13, 2025, incident. Walker conceded to racking the gun twice before unloading it near L.S, risking accidental discharge, injury or death.

Aside from using a firearm recklessly in front of L.S., Walker’s plea differs significantly from the original allegations. L.S. said Walker raped her at gunpoint on July 13 and sexually assaulted her on two other occasions.

“The day (Walker) put a gun in my face we were at a girl’s house and there was a handgun present,” L.S. said in court. “I tried to hide it but it was later found. He said ‘strip for me’. He traced my body with the handgun and raped me.”

Not wanting her parents to know, L.S. arranged transport to a Helena hospital for a sexual assault forensic exam.

L.S. described 40 days of Walker’s abusive behavior from him allegedly forcing sex with her the first time on June 6, 2025.

“That’s when I started to learn Teagin gets what he wants,” L.S. testified. “He choked me with his hands and a chain necklace. That night I went from an innocent girl, the cheerleader, a pastor’s kid with so much hope and life, to (someone) who didn’t know if she’d survive."

L.S. and her family reported spending $1,978 on resulting medical expenses, including anxiety medication, psychiatry appointments, and $708 for a home security system.

“I hadn’t fully grasped the abuse,” L.S. said. “All I knew is I’d made it out alive.”

‘Love’ letters written by L.S. to Walker while she was away at bible camp evidently weakened her accusations.

“I wrote letters generated by AI,” L.S. said. “Those letters became the thing that set (him) free. “I was later told they are dropping the case entirely.”

Lindy Henry, Walker’s public defense attorney, introduced a Feb. 27 order to introduce evidence of L.S. prior sexual conduct, potentially undermining the case if it went to trial. The order moved to include a different rape allegation against someone else from L.S. during her sophomore year of high school.

“There was no male DNA present,” Henry said of the rape kit test result then. “That’s exculpatory. Mr. Walker understands he needs to be more careful around firearms in the future.”

Henry attempted to block impact statements from L.S.’ pastor and brother. Ohman overruled Henry’s request.

L.S.’ pastor noticed massive bruises on her arms and legs during the bible camp.

“Someone had been grabbing her hard, hurting her,” said the pastor, who noticed massive bruises on L.S.’ arms and legs. “I did not want to jump to conclusions, but something was very wrong. (L.S.) tried to convince me not to tell anyone.

“Given the opportunity (Walker) will do it again and I hope that when he does better justice will be served.”

“At the beginning (police) encouraged me to speak up,” L.S. said. “They said with all my evidence it would be an easy case. The legal system failed me.”

A person convicted of sexual intercourse without consent can face life imprisonment or by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not more than 20 years, and not more than $50,000 in fines, according to state statute.

The new case against Walker involves another 17-year-old Three Forks resident from a separate summer 2025 incident.

On June 26, 2025, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy David Coles was assigned to the additional sex crime allegation against Walker after it was reported to the Bozeman Help Line. Coles was informed by the alleged victim’s mother that her daughter was sexually assaulted a few weeks earlier, according to court documents.

Walker’s initial appearance for the new case is scheduled for May 12. No other information was immediately available.