Former state Senator has appeal request denied

The appeal of former Georgia Senator Charles Walker has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court did not comment on its decision.

Walker is serving a ten-year prison sentence for his conviction on tax evasion, mail fraud, and conspiracy charges. The Augusta Democrat and former Senate majority leader was convicted in 2005 on 127 counts.

Walker's lawyers had argued that the federal grand jury was unfairly stacked against him, the sentence was too long, and key prosecution evidence was not presented.

Appeal denied for former state Senator

A federal appeals court in Atlanta has denied former state Senator Charles Walker's request for a new hearing. He was asking for a review of his 2005 conviction on tax evasion, mail fraud, and conspiracy charges--a conviction that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence. Walker is the Augusta Democrat who held the title of Senate majority leader. In February, a three-judge panel heard arguments from Walker's lawyers. In July, the panel affirmed Walker's conviction. Walker may decide to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appeals court decision.

Court sentence upheld for former Augusta State Senator

A federal court has affirmed the 10-year prison sentence of former Augusta state Sen. Charles Walker. Walker was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and misuse of his political office for personal profit. The former statesman appealed his sentence, saying the lower court made several mistakes. But the 11th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals rejected all those claims. Walker is a Democrat. He became the first African-American State Senate Majority leader in Georgia history in 1996.