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Former NBA and Mount Carmel star Antoine Walker is promising to pay more than $900,000 to settle bad check charges with three Las Vegas casinos and avoid felony criminal charges.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson approved a deal today letting Walker pay almost $13,000 a month over five years.
Restitution and penalties would total $905,050, including $135,000 cash bail already posted following Walker's arrest in July at a Lake Tahoe hotel. That would settle casino debts incurred between July 2008 and January 2009 at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
Walker, who was accused of being a slum landlord in a Tribune story Sunday, wasn't in court.
Former NBA and Mount Carmel star Antoine Walker is promising to pay more than $900,000 to settle bad check charges with three Las Vegas casinos and avoid felony criminal charges.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson approved a deal today letting Walker pay almost $13,000 a month over five years.
Restitution and penalties would total $905,050, including $135,000 cash bail already posted following Walker's arrest in July at a Lake Tahoe hotel. That would settle casino debts incurred between July 2008 and January 2009 at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
Walker, who was accused of being a slum landlord in a Tribune story Sunday, wasn't in court.
His lawyer, Jonathan Powell, says the 6-foot-9 Walker hopes sign with a team in the U.S. or Europe this season.
"This is a win for the defendant, he avoids a felony conviction, and it's a win for the community because the victim gets paid the restitution," prosecutor Bernie Zadrowski said outside court.
Of the $770,050 to be paid, the Clark County district attorney's office will collect $90,550 in fees and surcharges, Zadrowski added.
Walker never entered a plea in the case, which was filed last July. Melanie Andress-Tobiasson agreed today not to order him to stand trial in state court on three felony bad check charges, each carrying a possible one- to four-year prison term.
But the judge also scheduled a June 1 hearing to make sure he makes payments, and warned Powell that if Walker falls behind, he could face criminal action.
"I can tell you at the point he stops making payments, I will bind him up so fast it'll make your head spin," Andress-Tobiasson said.
The case stemmed from $1 million in casino markers, or promises to pay, that Walker racked up between July 2008 and January 2009. In Nevada, unpaid markers are treated as bad checks and can be turned over to the district attorney for prosecution. Zadrowski, chief of the Clark County district attorney's office bad check unit, said Walker repaid $178,000 before charges were filed.
Walker was a three-time all-star with the Boston Celtics and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. He was a starting forward on Kentucky's 1996 national title team, and played for Dallas and Atlanta before ending his 12-year NBA career in 2008 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Powell said Walker splits time between Miami and Chicago.
"This is a win for the defendant, he avoids a felony conviction, and it's a win for the community because the victim gets paid the restitution," prosecutor Bernie Zadrowski said outside court.
Of the $770,050 to be paid, the Clark County district attorney's office will collect $90,550 in fees and surcharges, Zadrowski added.
Walker never entered a plea in the case, which was filed last July. Melanie Andress-Tobiasson agreed today not to order him to stand trial in state court on three felony bad check charges, each carrying a possible one- to four-year prison term.
But the judge also scheduled a June 1 hearing to make sure he makes payments, and warned Powell that if Walker falls behind, he could face criminal action.
"I can tell you at the point he stops making payments, I will bind him up so fast it'll make your head spin," Andress-Tobiasson said.
The case stemmed from $1 million in casino markers, or promises to pay, that Walker racked up between July 2008 and January 2009. In Nevada, unpaid markers are treated as bad checks and can be turned over to the district attorney for prosecution. Zadrowski, chief of the Clark County district attorney's office bad check unit, said Walker repaid $178,000 before charges were filed.
Walker was a three-time all-star with the Boston Celtics and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. He was a starting forward on Kentucky's 1996 national title team, and played for Dallas and Atlanta before ending his 12-year NBA career in 2008 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Powell said Walker splits time between Miami and Chicago.
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