PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A member of Florida Atlantic University’s student government is now facing an impeachment process following his arrest in Delray Beach on charges tied to an alleged attempt to meet who he believed was a minor for sex.
FAU student leader facing impeachment following online predator sting arrest. CBS12’s Paige Meyer reports.
According to the FAU student newspaper, the FAU University Press, student government leaders have begun the process to potentially remove 21-year-old Christian Walden from his position as Boca Raton House of Representatives Ways and Means chairperson following an emergency meeting being held Friday.
The University Press reported that their lawmakers introduced articles of impeachment against Walden and discussed procedures for his possible removal from office.
FAU’s Student Government Boca House Speaker, Jack Nixon, wrote to the University Press that “We are having the emergency meeting to bring about swift accountability to Mr. Walden for his acts, which thankfully were brought to our light by 561PC and its creators.”
Nixon adds, “Paradise Party members are writing these two bills to 1) remove Mr. Walden from the Boca House of Representatives Administration, 2) to remove Mr. Walden from SG as a whole.”
FAU student leader facing impeachment following online predator sting arrest
Walden, of Boynton Beach, was arrested after Delray Beach Police said he traveled to a Home Depot in Delray Beach to meet someone he believed was a teenage boy for a sexual encounter.
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Investigators said Walden had allegedly been communicating online with someone he believed was a minor before he was confronted Tuesday by a group known as “561 Predator Catchers,” which records encounters with suspected online predators.
Dustin Lampros, who is associated with the group 561 Predator Catchers, told police Walden had arrived at the Home Depot to meet a person he believed was an underage boy. This image shows Lampros confronting Walden. (561 Predator Catchers)
Video shared by the group appears to show Walden acknowledging the age of the person he believed he was communicating with.
“We work with an organization that monitors online activity between minors and adults and what are we doing? I was just gonna meet someone. Who were you gonna meet? This guy I met online. How old is he? 14. You said he’s 14? Hm-mm. Is that how old he said? 14 I think. Well, he said he was turning 14, right? So that means he’s 13. Yeah. Right?” That was one of the conversations within the 561 Predator Catchers video.
Court records show Walden is charged with traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
Walden appeared before a judge earlier this week, where his bond was set at $25,000.
Christian “CJ” Walden, a Florida Atlantic University student government member and Ways and Means chair, appears in court for his first appearance Wednesday morning. (CBS12 News)
Following the hearing, CBS12 News reporter Al Pefley spoke with Walden’s parents outside the courtroom, saying he is absolutely innocent and “is a sweet kid.”
Florida Atlantic University previously released a statement to CBS12 News saying, in part, “Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the university cannot confirm an individual’s student status or comment on matters that may be part of a student’s educational record without appropriate authorization.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
