Grove Daily News
Tuesday, October 22, 1996
TULSA (AP) – A pool of potential jurors began assembling Monday for possible selection on the panel hearing federal charges against suspended Ottawa County Sheriff James Ed Walker.
U.S. District Judge H. Dale Cook scheduled jury selection for late morning in preparation for Walker’s trial on charges of gambling and extortion.
Federal prosecutors anticipated the trial would take about two weeks. Walker’s attorney, Chad Richardson, said the defense likely would need one more week to call its own witnesses.
Walker, 48, was indicted in May as part of a state and federal investigation into illegal gambling activity in northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas.
When asked for comment during a morning recess, Walker said, “Sorry, you’ll have to talk to my attorneys.”
Richardson’s Tulsa law firm replaced the Stipe law firm in representing Walker, forcing two delays in September.
Federal prosecutors allege Walker told the owners of illegal gambling devices they would be required to pay him 10 percent of the profits to operate the machines in Ottawa County.
He also is accused of agreeing to inform the operators of any impending raids on the machines.
The investigation also led to indictments against 20 other people, many of whom have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in Walker’s trial.
Five counts of the indictment accuse Walker of extorting payments out of men allegedly running illegal gambling businesses in northeast Oklahoma and Missouri.
Four counts of the indictment say Walker aided and abetted the operation of those illegal gambling sites. Three counts accuse Walker of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The first-term sheriff has characterized the matter as political. Walker did not run for re-election this year.
If convicted, Walker faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of five extortion counts. Each of the other seven counts could result in five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
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