Man convicted of shooting girl faces weapons charge

One of two cousins sent to prison for life for shooting a teenage girl to death in October 1997 now faces trial on a firearms charge.

District Judge Donald Mosley Wednesday scheduled Johnny Hughes Walker's trial for Jan. 22. The charge will be ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Walker, 20, and his cousin, Christian Doran Walker, 21, were convicted on murder charges and sentenced to two consecutive life terms each in the shooting death of Maureen McConaha, 17.

Johnny Walker is eligible for parole after 40 years and Christian Walker after 20 years.

Authorities believe Christian Walker and McConaha had a tumultuous relationship and on the night she died he became angry when he saw her talking to another man at a party.

Witnesses saw the girl leave with the cousins, and an hour later the two came back by themselves.

Although no murder weapon was ever found, because the jury found that Johnny Walker, who has past convictions for battery and attempted burglary, used a deadly weapon to kill McConaha, prosecutors have charged him with ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

If Johnny Walker goes to trial on the firearms charge, he faces an additional one -to six-year sentence. He also has three other cases pending against him that also come with one- to six-year sentences. In each of those cases, Johnny Walker is accused of committing battery on corrections officers at the Clark County Detention Center while awaiting trial.

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