Black Sentenced After Severe Beating Led to Death of 71-Year-Old White Man

M Live
May 15, 2014

A Flint teen was ordered to spend a minimum of nearly three decades in prison even after jurors acquitted him of killing a 71-year-old man.

Estes Jamone Walker, 19, was sentenced Tuesday, May 13, by Genesee Circuit Judge Geoffrey Neithercut guilty of carjacking, first-degree home invasion and unarmed robbery following a four-day trial stemming from the death of 71-year-old William E. Bullock.

Bullock, who was severely beaten during the home invasion, died three months later after he was released from the hospital.

Walker was sentenced to 23 years, nine months to 50 years in prison on the carjacking charge and six to 20 years in prison for the home invasion conviction. The sentences will be served consecutively.

A 10-15 year sentence for unarmed robbery will be served concurrently.

Officials say Bullock was severely beaten during the Jan. 11, 2013, attack at his home on West Dartmouth Street near Trumbull Avenue. The 71-year-old Bullock suffered face, head and neck injuries. Prosecutors also say he was strangled.

Bullock was released from the hospital in February 2013 and put in a home care facility before he died at the hospital April 1, 2013.

Walker, 19, was initially charged with assault with harm less than murder but prosecutors charged him with first-degree felony murder after Bullock’s death.

However, jurors acquitted him of the murder charge.

State sentencing guidelines gave Neithercut the discretion to sentence Walker consecutively on the carjacking charge.