Miami News-Record
Sunday, October 20, 1996
Walker’s trial begins Monday
Case on sheriff’s gambling charges opens in Tulsa federal court
By Ron Holmes
Miami News-Record
Apparently the trial of Ottawa County, Sheriff Ed Walker on federal gambling charges will proceed as scheduled Monday following a month’s delay while his new attorney prepared a case.
The trial, originally scheduled for last month, was delayed when Walker fired his attorney with the prestigious Stipes law firm and hired Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson. At the time, Federal Judge H. Dale Cook allowed only a one-week continuance, but later reset the trial date to Oct. 21.
Randal Edgmon, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office said this week that they were preparing to go to trial. Witnesses subpoenaed in the case have not been notified otherwise, and Richardson’s office confirmed that hey will be there. Walker was not available for comment.
The sheriff was charged with 12 counts of extortion, illegal gambling and obstruction of justice in connection with last fall’s raid by federal agents against area businesses which maintained illegal video gambling devices. Others indicted in the case have testified that they gave Walker payoffs to ignore their illegal operations.
Throughout the case, Walker has maintained his innocence, saying the charges were politically motivated and said he will not accept a plea bargain, should one be offered.
Walker has been on a paid leave of absence from the county since his indictment by a federal grand jury last May.
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