Miami News-Record
Thursday, November 7, 1996
Walker acquitted on 8 of 12 counts
By Ron Holmes
Miami News-Record
TULSA- After a trying two and half weeks, the numerous friend and family of Ottawa County Sheriff James “Ed” Walker who were gathered in federal court Wednesday evening breathed an audible sigh as Judge H. Dale Cook read the jury’s verdict-not guilty on eight charges, hopelessly deadlocked on the remaining four.
It was an emotional and dramatic moment in a trial which saw numerous Ottawa County bar owners and vending machine operators, testify that Walker had received payoffs for ignoring their illegal gambling operations. Walker had been charged with 12 counts of extortion, obstruction of justice and illegal gambling following last year’s raid by federal authorities, and he has been on a leave of absence from his position as sheriff since he was indicted by a grand jury earlier this year.
Late Wednesday evening, standing in a downpour on the steps of the federal building amidst a flood of television lights, radio microphones and reporters, Walker vowed to return to work and to present two unsolved murder cases, those of Guy Krisher and Raymond Frazier, to the multi-county grand jury in Oklahoma City.
Visibly moved, Walker thanked his family for its support, and indeed each day throughout the long trial the benches behind the defense table were filled with relatives, some of whom had traveled a considerable distance and others who had taken off work to attend.
“I really want to thank my mom and dad,” he said. “If they hadn’t put up the money, I couldn’t have hired an attorney.”
Walker also had glowing praise for his father and son attorney team, Gary Richardson and son, Chad. “I couldn’t have been more pleased. They’re the best.”
Throughout the trial the defense focused on the truthfulness of prosecution witnesses, many of who have entered a plea agreement and await sentencing, and on the possibility that Walker had been framed.
Two months ago, in an abrupt change of his legal representation shortly before the originally scheduled date for his trial, Walker replaced the prestigious Stipes law firm with the Richardsons.
“There was never any doubt in my mind,” Walker said of the verdict. “I think people saw that this was politically motivated to get me out of office. I would have liked to have had all 12 be not guilty, but I’m happy with eight.”
Chad Richardson, who sat by Walker as the verdict was read, said that he did not expect the charges to be refiled.
After deliberating on Tuesday afternoon and most of the day Wednesday, the jury had notified the judge that they had reached a verdict on eight counts but were deadlocked on the remaining.
Cook sent them back to the jury room to try once more, citing the time and expense expended in the trial. Later he polled each juror, asking each if they thought that further deliberation might break the stalemate. Unanimously they answered, “No.”
Finally he told them, “I am satisfied you are totally deadlocked,” and accepted their findings.
The verdict came, no doubt, as a blow to the rumored 97 percent success rate of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutor Steve Lewis said that he would not have a statement, and declined to say whether the remaining charges would be pursued.
Walker, who withdrew from the sheriff’s race following his indictment, said that he plans to spend the next few days resting and will then meet with Ottawa County commissioners to discuss his return to work.
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