Trial date set for city worker charged with embezzlement

GONZALES — Belinda Walker, the former Gonzales city employee charged with theft by a public servant, was given a jury trial date of July 7 during Monday’s proceedings before 25th District Court Judge William Old.

Walker,  who was terminated July 8, 2011 and was indicted by a Gonzales County grand jury in March 2012  on 13 counts of theft by a public servant, is accused of misappropriating as much as $250,000 in municipal funds during a span of more than two years.

In the grand jury indictment, Walker was accused of theft of funds during the period from Feb. 23, 2009, to June 10, 2011. According to the indictment, Walker is alleged to have “unlawfully appropriated” on 13 separate occasions “United States currency, of the value of less than $20,000, from the City of Gonzales … without the effective consent of the owner … by virtue of her status as such a public servant.”

Walker served as the city park’s secretary during the period cited in the indictment.

The grand jury indictment specifies the misappropriations on the following dates: Feb. 23, 2009; Sept. 25, 2009; Aug. 23, 2010; Dec. 6, 2010; Dec. 21, 2010; Jan. 4, 2011; March 3, 2011; March 28, 2011; April 5, 2011; April 28, 2011; May 3, 2011; June 7, 2011; and June 10, 2011.

The charges against Walker came eight months and one day after she was terminated from her position with the city Parks & Recreation Department.

Charles Windwehen, interim city manager at the time of Walker’s termination, said he could not release the name of the employee until charges were filed. When the grand jury indictment was handed down on March 9 2012, it became official that Walker was the city employee who was terminated.

Walker, who was never arrested in connection with the theft, is scheduled for a July 7 jury trial stemming from the grand jury indictment.

Walker turned herself in to Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office deputies on March 12, 2012, and was booked into county jail. She was released that same day after appearing before County Judge David Bird and posting a $10,000 bond.