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Calgary

Husband-and-wife team to be sentenced without co-convicted millionaire

Retired Calgary police officer Steve Walton and his wife, Heather, will be sentenced without their co-accused, Ken Carter, a millionaire who is allegedly in Russia suffering a mystery ailment that leaves him unable to travel.

Ken Carter allegedly in Russia suffering ailment that renders him unable to travel

Former Calgary Police Service employees Heather and Steve Walton were convicted on corruption-related charges and will be sentenced Oct. 30. (Meghan Grant/CBC)

Retired city police officer Steve Walton and his wife, Heather, will be sentenced withoutco-convicted Calgary millionaireKen Carter.

The three were convicted of corruption-related offences last October for their roles in stalking Carter's ex-girlfriend, Akele Taylor, in an effort to make her give up custody of their daughter.

Carter paid the Walton's unlicensed private investigationfirm roughly $1 million for their work. In turn, the Waltonsused their connections to access Calgary Police Service resources.

Carter was convicted of criminal harassment.

Steve Walton was found guilty of that charge as well as charges of bribing an officer and improper use of a firearm.

Heather Waltona former civilian employee for the police service was convicted of bribing an officer and on the firearmcharge. Jurors were unable to decide whether she was guilty of criminal harassment, so a mistrial was declared on that charge.

Ken Carter, a former Jenny Craig franchise owner who is said to be worth $80 million, is allegedly stuck in Russia and can't travel due to an undisclosed medical condition. (Submitted)

The bribery charges relate to paying police officers to access and share information from internal CPS databases on Taylor and her friends.

The firearm charge stems from the execution of a search warrant on theWaltons' home, where police found guns that were improperly stored.

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Carter in July after he failed to appear for multiple sentencing dates.

His lawyer, Gavin Wolch, says Carter is in Russia suffering from an illness that has rendered him unable to travel. Wolch won't reveal the nature of the illness in court.

Wolch expects an update on Carter's medical condition and fitness to travel by the end of the month.

The Waltonswill be sentenced Oct.30.

Prosecutors have expressed concern over the veracity of Carter's medical situation. They say they've filed a notice of application for "absconding" but are still considering whether to move forward with that.

Corrections

  • The headline in the original version of this story indicated that Ken Carter was a fugitive. His lawyer says Carter is stuck in Russia and can't travel due to a medical condition.
    Oct 31, 2019 3:56 PM MT

With files from Meghan Grant