RICHMOND, Va. -- Travis Ball, the man who was sentenced to 36 years in prison for killing Virginia State Trooper Mike Walter, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm that was used to kill Walter in May 2017.
The 10-year prison sentence will be added onto his 36-year prison sentence for killing Walter.
Walter's widow, Jamie Walter, turned her frustration with Ball’s original sentence into action and fought for a new law that requires anyone convicted of the capital murder of a member of law enforcement to spend a minimum of life in prison.
“Today, justice was definitely served,” Jamie said after the sentencing Thursday. “I definitely feel like that the justice system certainly came through today, especially for my husband, for our children and myself on the stand.”
In February, Ball voluntarily pleaded guilty on a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The charge is in connection to the killing of Walter on May 26, 2017. Ball shot and killed Walter after Walter approached the car where Ball sat in Richmond’s Mosby Court.
According to the indictment, Ball, 30, possessed a .25 caliber firearm after previously being convicted of a felony.
Ball was charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Walter. He entered an Alford plea to one count of capital murder. An Alford Plea means Ball understood there was enough evidence to convict him of the crime, however, he did not admit guilt.
Shortly after the plea, then-Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Herring announced Ball would no longer face the death penalty. Under the previously agreed-upon plea deal, the Commonwealth of Virginia sought the maximum of 60 years in prison.
In October 2018, Circuit Court Judge Beverly W. Snukals sentenced Ball to 36 years in prison with a suspended life sentence. If Ball gets out and violates parole, he will then be sentenced to life in prison.
“Due to Travis Ball’s selfish and brutal crime, the Walter family, the Virginia State Police, and the Commonwealth of Virginia will never be the same,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “At a time of unprecedented and appropriate focus on interactions between individuals and law enforcement, we must not lose sight of the ultimate sacrifice given by the good and honorable law enforcement officers, and their surviving loved ones, who protect and serve for the rest of us.”
