Caleb Walker
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Published: 6/30/2008 | Updated: 1/23/2009
Caleb Walker was sentenced this morning to 12 years prison for the drug-induced homicide of a 17-year-old Quincy girl last summer.
Walker, 20, must serve at least 75 percent of his sentence, or less than nine years with time already served. Many members of Shanae Jacobs’ family broke down in tears after Judge Scott Walden announced the sentence. A crying Walker was led from the courtroom afterward.
Walker pleaded guilty May 20. He filed motions to withdraw his guilty plea and to get a new attorney, but he withdrew those motions before today’s sentencing.
Authorities said Walker, who worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens in Quincy, supplied potent MS Contin pills to a juvenile, who then gave two 200-milligram pills to Jacobs.
The juvenile pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced last month to an indefinite term in the Juvenile Department of Corrections, where he could be held until he’s 21.
Walker faced between six and 13 1/2 years in prison in exchange for the guilty plea.
Walden called it an “unimaginable loss” as he addressed Jacobs’ friends and family. She would have graduated in May from Quincy Notre Dame High School.
While noting Walker had no prior criminal record and had many letters of support, the judge didn’t mince words when talking to him.
“You did this for money, and you passed it on the children,” Walden said. “You didn’t expect someone to die ... but you did pass it on for money, not caring what the consequences would be.”
Evidence in previous hearings showed the juvenile, 15, gave Jacobs two 200-milligram MS Contin pills on Aug. 9, 2007. MS Contin is a potent time-release form of morphine, usually taken every 12 hours for chronic pain and often used by cancer patients in hospice care.
Authorities said Jacobs’ autopsy showed she had 790 nanograms of the substance in her system, about four times the lethal dose.
Walker made a short statement before being sentenced, giving his “deepest sympathy” to Jacobs’ family. He asked to the judge to consider his cooperation and honesty with police during the investigation.
State’s Attorney Jon Barnard gave Walden two photos before making his argument, one of Jacobs in life and one taken of her after she died.
“Today is, more than anything, Shanae’s day,” Barnard said. “Today is about justice for Shanae.”
Barnard noted Jacobs’ parents did not speak during the sentencing because “they did not and do not have the strength. That is the toll that this has taken upon them.”
Barnard asked for the full 13 1/2 year sentence as negotiated.
“The defendant will have a future. His friends and family will look forward to the day when he comes home,” Barnard said. “He’ll have options ... and he’ll have visitors where he will be.
“Shanae will only accept visitors at her grave.”
Public Defender Ed Downey said Walker took responsibility for actions and expressed remorse.
— rhart@whig.com/221-3370
The state legislature passed a law this spring requiring that people convicted
of a drug-induced homicide will serve at least 75 percent of their
sentence. The law previously stated that those convicted could get
day-for-day credit. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
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