Sentencing for Steve and Heather Walton to proceed despite absence of co-accused, judge says
Client: Steve Walton, Heather Walton
Charge: Bribery, Harassment
Defence: Request to delay sentencing until all three convicted can be charged simultaneously
Status: Awaiting sentencing
The sentencing of a retired detective and his wife in connection with a police corruption case will proceed in the absence of the man who spearheaded the case, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman said he will sentence Steve and Heather Walton at the end of the month, even though wealthy Calgary businessman Ken Carter remains in Russia with apparent health problems.
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner, who acts for the Waltons, had asked the judge to once again delay his clients’ sentencing until Carter could return to face sentencing with them.
“If it’s going to be in the next month or so, I would prefer all three to be sentenced simultaneously,” Hepner told Poelman.
But with no guarantee when Carter will return to face punishment for orchestrating a stalking plot against his ex-girlfriend by using Steve Walton to hire police officers to tail her, Poelman said it was time to sentence the Calgary couple.
“I would prefer that they be sentenced together, as well,” Poelman said, before concluding the court had delayed the decision long enough.
“We’ve already waited a long time.”
Lawyer Gavin Wolch said Carter remains in Russia with an undisclosed medical problem, which is preventing him from travelling home to face sentencing for criminally harassing Akele Taylor.
“I don’t have an estimate on the return,” Wolch told Poelman.
“He’s going to be reviewed at the end of October . . . at which point I’ll have a better estimate,” the lawyer said.
Wolch has been reluctant to say too much about Carter’s medical problems in open court, and Poelman gave him until Oct. 18 to file a publication ban application and notification to the media that he’ll be seeking a restriction on what can be printed.
Crown prosecutors Katherine Love and Ryan Persad have filed notification they will apply to have Carter declared an absconding offender and seek to have him sentenced in absentia.
They have said they need more information on Carter’s medical condition to provide to Canadian doctors to determine if there is legitimacy to the businessman’s claims he is too ill to travel.
Their application would focus on medical records, so Wolch will need to seek a publication ban in advance if he wishes to keep Carter’s health information private.
Persad told Poelman he did receive further information from Wolch on his client’s condition, which will have to be analyzed by Canadian physicians.
“We’ll have to review this material, we’ll have to give (it) to the doctors for review,” he said.
Carter was convicted of orchestrating a harassment scheme against Taylor, with whom he was in a custody dispute over their child.
Both he and Steve Walton were convicted of harassment, while both Waltons were found guilty by a jury 12 months ago of bribing police officers.
The Waltons remain free pending their Oct. 30 sentencing.
Source: Calgary Herald