Bill Walker’s attorney asks for leniency in Monday’s sentencing
An attorney for William Walker, the former director of the state Department of Marine Resources, filed a motion Friday asking the judge not to follow the sentencing guidelines and impose a lighter sentence when Walker appears in federal court Monday in Hattiesburg.
His sentencing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday before U.S. Southern District Judge Keith Starrett.
Walker’s attorney, William Kirksey, said in the motion that Walker doesn’t have any prior record and the crime he pleaded guilty to was non-violent. He said the facts support “a sentence without unnecessary imprisonment.”
Walker and his son, Scott Walker, both pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the government while Bill Walker was DMR director.
“As the man he is, he stepped up, accepted responsibility for his acts and entered a plea before this court and now is ready for an appropriate sentence,” the motion said.
Walker has no prior record and is unlikely to commit another crime, the attorney said. “Nothing would be advanced or gained by placing a 69 year old in prison.”
Sunherald
6/16/14
Magnolia Tribune
