Antoine Walker facing felony charges. Possible prison time?

[nickagneta]

LAS VEGAS -- A judge on Monday ordered former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker to face trial on felony bad check charges that allege he failed to repay almost $1 million in gambling debts and penalties to three Las Vegas casinos.

The 33-year-old Walker said nothing as he appeared Monday with his lawyer, Jonathan Powell, before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson. He remains free without bail until his June 30 arraignment in state court.

The judge noted that Walker hadn't made any progress repaying some $770,000 he owes on a promise last November to pay $905,050 in restitution, court fees and penalties. At the time, Walker forfeited toward that amount the $135,000 cash bail he posted following his arrest at a celebrity golf tournament last July in Lake Tahoe.

Andress-Tobiasson bound Walker over for trial in Clark County District Court on three criminal bad check charges that, combined, could get him probation or send him to prison for up to 12 years if he's convicted.

Link

Luckily Walker must have received some good legal advice because his filing bankruptcy in Florida has complicated things and might eventually keep him out of prison. But then again maybe not. If he shows little attempt or desire to pay back these markers, Toine could be looking at prison time.

[Redz]

This will put a serious damper on any bring back Toine threads (there's always Gerald)

[celticsclay]

I am not really sure what throwing him in prison so quickly after the incidents would do. Does that help him pay back the debt? Especially when he is attempting to make an NBA comeback and working out with Pitino, the casino's would seem to be in better shape if he was allowed to at least play professionally somewhere. Overall the story is just very sad. I wonder what his lifestyle has been since the gambling debts all smashed together. I also wonder how the filing of bankruptcy will help.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Well, hey, think about how GREAT the prison Basketball team would be...What would they call it...."The Longest Three Pointer"...What are the odds...? Wanna bet...?

[JSD]

This will put a serious damper on any bring back Toine threads (there's always Gerald)

I'd say they're done.

[celticsclay]

If he is in game shape and gets his life in order somehow I would still take him as a towel waver

[misha]

Well, hey, think about how GREAT the prison Basketball team would be...What would they call it...."The Longest Three Pointer"...What are the odds...? Wanna bet...?

And thhey almost got Gilbert Arenas too.

[PSquared]

Meadowlark_Scal and misha :

Can we please show a bit more CLASS here?   A man could be on the verge of serving prison time here and there's no reason to make light of the situation.  


Now I also agree with what celticsclay stated.  Just how will the Casinos get their money back if they lock Walker up.   Makes no sense whatsoever on their part.  

Plus, Walker has made an effort to pay pack the Money but they are just not patient at all.   I fail to see Toine get ANY Jail time here 'cause, like celticsclay stated, Toine's time would be better spent finding some sort of income and paying back the Casinos.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (CBS/AP) Former three-time NBA All-Star Antoine Walker allegedly failed to repay nearly $1 million in gambling debts and penalties to three Las Vegas casinos. On Monday, a judge ordered Walker to face trial on felony bad check charges.

A somber-looking Walker said nothing when he appeared before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson.  The judge made sure to mention Walker's failed progress to repay sums totaling $770,000 that he owes on a promise last November to pay $905,050 for court fees, penalties and restitution. At the time, Walker handed over $135,000, which was the bail he posted after he was arrested last July at a celebrity golf outing.

The former Miami Heat forward faces three criminal bad check charges that, if he's convicted, could carry up to 12 years in prison, or as little as probation.

Walker used $1 million in gambling loans between July 2008 and January 2009 at Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace and the Red Rock Resort. In accordance with Nevada law, unpaid gambling loans or markers are considered bad checks and handled by the district attorney's office for prosecution.

Walker filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida last month, claiming $12.7 million in liabilities and $4.3 million in assets, which also includes his 2006 NBA Championship ring he earned with the Miami Heat. Those filings complicated the Las Vegas criminal case, according to head of the Clark County district attorney's bad check unit, Bernie Zadrowski.

Walker remains free without bail awaiting his arraignment in Nevada state court June 30.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20007780-504083.html

[guava_wrench]

I am not really sure what throwing him in prison so quickly after the incidents would do. Does that help him pay back the debt? Especially when he is attempting to make an NBA comeback and working out with Pitino, the casino's would seem to be in better shape if he was allowed to at least play professionally somewhere. Overall the story is just very sad. I wonder what his lifestyle has been since the gambling debts all smashed together. I also wonder how the filing of bankruptcy will help.

Sometimes the individual repaying their debt isn't the issue. The casino's might want to show people that they should not defraud them or they will be prosecuted. He would be a high profile warning.

While I am not a fan of prison for non-violent crimes, I am also not a fan of letting people defraud others.

[More Banners]

If he is in game shape and gets his life in order somehow I would still take him as a towel waver

He might still be able to fill a Leon Powesque role as designated rebounder/garbage man in short minutes off the bench.  I'd take him over Shelden Williams, right?

[nickagneta]

Meadowlark_Scal and misha :

Can we please show a bit more CLASS here?   A man could be on the verge of serving prison time here and there's no reason to make light of the situation.  


Now I also agree with what celticsclay stated.  Just how will the Casinos get their money back if they lock Walker up.   Makes no sense whatsoever on their part.  

Plus, Walker has made an effort to pay pack the Money but they are just not patient at all.   I fail to see Toine get ANY Jail time here 'cause, like celticsclay stated, Toine's time would be better spent finding some sort of income and paying back the Casinos.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (CBS/AP) Former three-time NBA All-Star Antoine Walker allegedly failed to repay nearly $1 million in gambling debts and penalties to three Las Vegas casinos. On Monday, a judge ordered Walker to face trial on felony bad check charges.

A somber-looking Walker said nothing when he appeared before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson.  The judge made sure to mention Walker's failed progress to repay sums totaling $770,000 that he owes on a promise last November to pay $905,050 for court fees, penalties and restitution. At the time, Walker handed over $135,000, which was the bail he posted after he was arrested last July at a celebrity golf outing.

The former Miami Heat forward faces three criminal bad check charges that, if he's convicted, could carry up to 12 years in prison, or as little as probation.

Walker used $1 million in gambling loans between July 2008 and January 2009 at Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace and the Red Rock Resort. In accordance with Nevada law, unpaid gambling loans or markers are considered bad checks and handled by the district attorney's office for prosecution.

Walker filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida last month, claiming $12.7 million in liabilities and $4.3 million in assets, which also includes his 2006 NBA Championship ring he earned with the Miami Heat. Those filings complicated the Las Vegas criminal case, according to head of the Clark County district attorney's bad check unit, Bernie Zadrowski.

Walker remains free without bail awaiting his arraignment in Nevada state court June 30.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20007780-504083.html

Actually he hasn't made any attempt to pay back the Casino. The $135,000 he paid was the bail to get him out of jail. After that, he hasn't paid anything. Suffice to say, if he didn't have to pay the bail to get out of jail, I'm not so sure he would have come up with even that.

And it's not the Casino that is impatient. It's the court and the District Attorney. He was probably given set dates to pay so much money by in order to fore go criminal charges. Since he hasn't met those deadlines, it is at the DA's and judge's discretion as to be patient or proceed with the criminal charges. The Casino has nothing to do with it.

At this point the people Antoine has to keep happy are the law in Nevada.

[PSquared]

I am not really sure what throwing him in prison so quickly after the incidents would do. Does that help him pay back the debt? Especially when he is attempting to make an NBA comeback and working out with Pitino, the casino's would seem to be in better shape if he was allowed to at least play professionally somewhere. Overall the story is just very sad. I wonder what his lifestyle has been since the gambling debts all smashed together. I also wonder how the filing of bankruptcy will help.

Sometimes the individual repaying their debt isn't the issue. The casino's might want to show people that they should not defraud them or they will be prosecuted. He would be a high profile warning.

While I am not a fan of prison for non-violent crimes, I am also not a fan of letting people defraud others.

okay fine. BUT HOW WILL THE CASINOS GET BACK THE MONEY OWED IF THE ONE IN DEBT IS INCARCERATED?

(excuse the Caps, by the way)

[nickagneta]

I am not really sure what throwing him in prison so quickly after the incidents would do. Does that help him pay back the debt? Especially when he is attempting to make an NBA comeback and working out with Pitino, the casino's would seem to be in better shape if he was allowed to at least play professionally somewhere. Overall the story is just very sad. I wonder what his lifestyle has been since the gambling debts all smashed together. I also wonder how the filing of bankruptcy will help.

Sometimes the individual repaying their debt isn't the issue. The casino's might want to show people that they should not defraud them or they will be prosecuted. He would be a high profile warning.

While I am not a fan of prison for non-violent crimes, I am also not a fan of letting people defraud others.

okay fine. BUT HOW WILL THE CASINOS GET BACK THE MONEY OWED IF THE ONE IN DEBT IS INCARCERATED?

(excuse the Caps, by the way)

Casinos like all businesses write off bad debt all the time. This would be no different than anything else they encounter in a business sense.

[PSquared]

Actually he hasn't made any attempt to pay back the Casino. The $135,000 he paid was the bail to get him out of jail. After that, he hasn't paid anything. Suffice to say, if he didn't have to pay the bail to get out of jail, I'm not so sure he would have come up with even that.

You don't think he was making ANY effort to pay them back?  How do you know that?  The man has ZERO INCOME to give, nick.  He was trying to get back into Basketball and failed but he TRIED.  It's not like he said F-you to the courts or anything like that.  

And it's not the Casino that is impatient. It's the court and the District Attorney. He was probably given set dates to pay so much money by in order to fore go criminal charges. Since he hasn't met those deadlines, it is at the DA's and judge's discretion as to be patient or proceed with the criminal charges. The Casino has nothing to do with it.

So basically, the judge is going to throw the book at him.  He's going to get the full 12 years.  Just watch.   (And you know the reason why he'll get the max.  Hint : If Ben Rothelsberger was in Toine's place, he'd get Probation.)

At this point the people Antoine has to keep happy are the law in Nevada.

The Law in Nevada is going to throw him in Prison without a second thought and then go pat themselves on their corrupt backs on how they taught Toine a lesson.  

[PSquared]

I am not really sure what throwing him in prison so quickly after the incidents would do. Does that help him pay back the debt? Especially when he is attempting to make an NBA comeback and working out with Pitino, the casino's would seem to be in better shape if he was allowed to at least play professionally somewhere. Overall the story is just very sad. I wonder what his lifestyle has been since the gambling debts all smashed together. I also wonder how the filing of bankruptcy will help.

Sometimes the individual repaying their debt isn't the issue. The casino's might want to show people that they should not defraud them or they will be prosecuted. He would be a high profile warning.

While I am not a fan of prison for non-violent crimes, I am also not a fan of letting people defraud others.

okay fine. BUT HOW WILL THE CASINOS GET BACK THE MONEY OWED IF THE ONE IN DEBT IS INCARCERATED?

(excuse the Caps, by the way)

Casinos like all businesses write off bad debt all the time. This would be no different than anything else they encounter in a business sense.

Interesting.  So they just write this off and Toine spends the next 12 years behind bars.   I hope their Casinos go bankrupt.  Those fudgepackers...