Six years after being convicted of defrauding the local school district of more than $1 million, former Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) contract electrician Calvin Walker has made pauper’s payments toward his debt to society — over the years claiming indigency, inability to work, and failure to flip assets to satisfy restitution.
Oct. 15, the bill was due to pay something, or report to jail for violating terms of Jefferson County Criminal District Court bond granted on a motion to revoke probation that called for regular restitution payments. By the end of the court hearing, a three-week extension was granted for Walker’s latest attorney, appeals lawyer Jonathan Landers, to review the case since, as the attorney stated, he was unfamiliar with the case specifics.
Roughly $100 per month, or $7,800 total, has been paid in the six years since conviction, the court was informed. The latest few thousand dollars comes from the sale of a bucket truck — for $5,000. Not all the funds were given toward restitution, however. Walker paid more money, in excess of $8,000, for Jefferson County jail snacks while serving 180 days of confinements over successive weekends.
Before moving to revoke Walker’s bond and send him to prison to serve the 10-year sentence he was handed down for two counts of securing a document (check from BISD) by deception and two counts of money laundering, the judge tried something else. Initially, Judge John Stevens ordered Walker to sign over real estate property already under court order to be sold to satisfy the criminal debt. Walker’s attorney balked at the notion, even though the possibility has been discussed previously in open court.
“Y’all aren’t surprised in this. This is something the court ordered five months ago,” Stevens quipped, eventually allowing the attorney some time to review the documents before making a tough stance on seizing the property.
Landers asked if the property would satisfy the entire debt – estimating the property’s worth at roughly $400,000, still less than half the restitution owed. Stevens ordered instead “fair compensation.”
According to Jefferson Central Appraisal District (JCAD) data, Walker’s properties, excluding his homestead, are valued at $160,912 for two lots at Lafitte’s Landing on Pleasure Island, $1,760 for a lot on Brandon Street in Beaumont, and $2,034 for property on Langham Street in Beaumont.
An Examiner search of real estate Multiple Listing Services (MLS) did not show a listing for the sale of any of Walker’s properties.
“It doesn’t make sense and it’s insulting you spent more on cookies and candy than paying this loss,” Stevens said. “You have paid a grand total of less than 1% … that you owe to the people who are having to absorb the cost of your debt.
“The court doesn’t find that satisfactory.”
Flashback
In August, Walker and Landers advised the court that Walker was making a sale of a vehicle (bucket truck) in the amount of $9,000. That entire amount, it was agreed, would be remitted for restitution. Stevens reminded Walker and his lawyer that the defendant had promised to pay $1,000 monthly toward restitution — but the payments never appeared.
“What is being done to impress the court that realistic attempts are trying to be made?” Stevens prodded two months ago. “I wonder why there wasn’t liquidation done to the satisfaction of this judgment?”
At that time, Landers said Walker lost the job with “the retirement place,” adding that Walker was allegedly going to sell an unspecified truck for $9,000 “to be applied toward restitution.”
Walker indicated that he was in the process of getting a new job, paying $500 monthly for consulting services, in addition to full contracting amounts for jobs facilitated through Walkers Electric under a co-signing company.
“So, we’re going to need a month, or two, or three, to figure that out,” Stevens summed up of what restitution is anticipated in the near future. “If the court’s not satisfied, the bond is going to get revoked.
“We need results.”
“I can only give them what they give me,” Walker retorted, no money in hand.
Stevens set a review hearing to get updates on property sale and employment acquisition.
“The reason I stuck my neck out on this was to try to get BISD some of their money back. Your freedom is depending on this.”
Deja vu
“We’ve been working on this for years,” Stevens said Oct. 15. “This is long overdue.
“It’s not reasonable and the court is going to take action.”
Landers, via Zoom for the hearing, said that he has started two new appeals – and is now reviewing the record to catch up on what is now transpiring in court.
“If I could have a couple weeks to figure this out…,” Landers said, asking for three weeks. “That’s when the appellate brief is due.”
The court ruled to set aside rendering a ruling for the three weeks requested.
“The court expects changes to be made on or before that date,” Stevens said. “I intend to revoke the bond. He will be treated like everyone else.
“If he wants this court to have favor with him, based on his track record, something needs to turn immediately.
“This court is tired of its orders not being followed in this case.”
Meanwhile, any restitution that Walker says he can get will be remitted – minus his ankle monitoring fees for reasons unknown.
“Nothing is being done,” Stevens said during the hearing. “We’re not going to spin the wheels of justice any longer.”