'Trimet Barber' Sentenced to 22 Years for Filming Dozens in Bathroom Stall

An individual who has terrified numerous women in Portland for over ten years was sentenced to 22 years in prison For recording 31 women in public restrooms.

Jared Walter, 37, had been out of prison only a few months after serving a 17-month sentence for filming a woman in a public bathroom when he was arrested in 2023 on suspicion of filming a teenager in a Providence Park bathroom.

Later, police discovered footage on Walter’s phone indicating he had recorded 31 women over a span of five days at restrooms located in seven different places: Shake Shack, the Rialto pool hall, Pioneer Place mall, a Starbucks café, the DoubleTree hotel, The Hub bar, and inside a building at Portland State University.

Prosecutors framed Walter’s sentencing as a step toward restoring public safety.

He has been a menace to our community," Deputy District Attorney Julian Samuels stated during the sentencing hearing on Friday. "Ever since his arrival, women and young girls have lived without security. Whenever he is free, individuals in our community face daily risks of sexual assault.

Walter has previously been convicted or implicated in multiple cases of cutting, gluing or ejaculating into women’s hair on TriMet buses, earning him the nickname “the Trimet Barber.”

In the most recent case, several victims delivered statements detailing how Walter’s offenses affected their lives. One woman mentioned that her circumstances altered drastically; she deemed things were improving when the frequency with which she checked the locks on her home at night decreased from 40 to 10 occurrences.

In court, one of the victims was the teenager whom Walter recorded at Providence Park. This individual’s initial complaint to a security guard led to a chain of events including the eventual call to the police, an investigation, arrest, trial, and finally, imprisonment.

“What happened to me and dozens of other women is something that no one should have to go through,” the victim, who was 15 at the time of the crime and is now 17, said in court. “The only thing that brings me peace is that you are here and not out there in the world.”

Prosecutors had initially sought a lifetime prison sentence, but ultimately agreed to 22 years to settle all the criminal charges against Walter, including a parole violation. In exchange, Walter waived his right to an appeal. Walter will get credit for his time served in jail since his arrest in May 2023.

During the trial, Walter’s lawyer contended that the women’s state of undress in the videos did not meet the legal definition of "nudity."

The jury wasn't convinced, taking only 25 minutes of deliberation after the trial concluded on May 30, 2024, to return guilty verdicts on 30 charges of first-degree violation of personal privacy along with one charge of attempting such an invasion.

On Friday, during his sentencing, Walter sat beside his lawyer, keeping his gaze fixed on the table and constantly shifting nervously while witnesses gave their testimonies. When it came time for him to speak, he offered apologies to the victims but swiftly shifted focus to the challenges he claimed to have endured, such as a severe head trauma he alleged occurred when he was just an infant, along with various psychological issues and mental health conditions.

He likewise challenged the harshness of his punishment, highlighting offenses that he believes receive equivalent or even milder penalties despite being, in his view, far graver.

The prosecutor's office isn't concerned with my mental health issues," he stated. "I'm receiving a punishment as severe as if I had committed murder or rape.

As Walter talked, one of the victims motioned disapproval with a vigorous shake of her head.

Judge Andrew Lavin did not concur with Walter’s assessment of the gravity of his offenses.

I have scarcely come across, perhaps not even once, a case that has profoundly impacted such a vast number of individuals," Lavin stated. "The human toll resulting from this case and Mr. Walter’s conduct is immeasurable and incalculable.

— Fedor Zarkhin covers breaking news and enterprise stories. Got a tip? Contact him via phone or text at 971-373-2905 or through email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com .

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