Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield man whose father is a well-known criminal defense attorney will remain in jail after violating the terms of his bond and pre-trial release conditions in a criminal sexual assault case.

On January 26, 2022, Walter W. Hanken, 24, the son of Springfield attorney Scott Hanken, was indicted on two counts of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony. According to court documents, in July 2021, Walter was accused of committing an act of sexual penetration “by the use of force or threat of force,” and that the victim was unable to give knowing consent. He was arrested and booked into the Sangamon County Jail but was released the same day after posting $20,000 bond.

Walter is currently represented by a legal team that includes Chicago attorney Donna Rotunno and Springfield attorneys Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff.

According to Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, the case was assigned to Special Prosecutor Kate Kurtz from the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office to avoid any conflicts of interest, given Hanken’s ties to the local legal community.

On January 29, 2025, while still awaiting trial and out on pre-trial release, Walter was arrested for driving under the influence after a crash near Iles and Archer Elevator in Springfield. According to Kurtz, he was driving a Bronco when he hit a cement roundabout and curb, causing the vehicle to flip. Kurtz stated that Walter admitted to “flying” down Archer Elevator and another street. Police noted he had the odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech, and admitted to having two shots at a bar earlier that night. He performed a field sobriety test, which showed signs of impairment, but refused to take a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT), a roadside tool used to estimate blood alcohol concentration.

That crash ultimately led to DUI charges, but by March 5, the case was resolved through a plea deal handled by attorney Frederick Schlosser. Walter received 12 months of court supervision, his DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving, and he was fined $2,325. His driving privileges were also reinstated.

Then, on May 4, at approximately 10:51 p.m., Springfield Police responded to a crash in the 4300 block of Fielding Drive. According to police, Walter was driving a black Ford F-150 westbound when he struck a legally parked car on the opposite side of the street. He then veered off the roadway and crashed into a green electrical utility box, knocking it off its concrete foundation and exposing live electrical wires.

Officers reported that he smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, swaying as he walked, and showed visible signs of impairment, including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and heavy eyelids. He admitted to driving the Ford F-150 and told police he had been looking at his phone due to an ESPN alert at the time of the crash. He also admitted to drinking two beers earlier while at work.

A nearby homeowner told officers they witnessed Walter disposing of items between homes following the crash. Officers later recovered two open, uncapped bottles of beer and a can of Twisted Tea leaking from a small hole. Police administered a field sobriety test, which indicated that he was impaired. However, he refused to submit a breath sample for a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT).

As a result, Walter was arrested for DUI and issued citations for illegal transportation of alcohol, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to reduce speed, and using a cell phone while driving.

Following his second DUI arrest, Walter appeared in court on May 6, 2025, after Kurtz sought to have his pre-trial release revoked. The hearing, held before Judge Zachary Schmidt, a visiting judge from Greene County, was scheduled to determine whether the judge would revoke Walter’s bond and order him back into custody. Instead of contesting the request, Walter, through his attorney Fultz, agreed to remain in jail. He will remain at the Sangamon County Jail until his next court date on May 28.

Fultz told the court a plea deal may be discussed at that time; otherwise, the case will proceed to trial.