Hearing set for ex-NBA star Antoine Walker in $822,500 gambling debt case

By Cara McCoy

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 | 9:26 a.m.

The case against a former NBA star who owes $822,500 in casino gambling debts is moving forward after a brief hearing today in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Antoine Walker was scheduled to appear this morning in front of Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson. His lawyer, Jonathan Powell, appeared on his behalf.

Powell indicated that Walker intended to waive his right to a preliminary hearing and asked for a continuance. Another hearing in front of Andress-Tobiasson was set for 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 30.

Waiving a preliminary hearing means a case goes directly to Clark County District Court.

"We're hoping some type of resolution in the case can be reached in the near future," Powell said. "Negotiations are ongoing."

Walker faces three felony bad check charges for gambling debts at three Las Vegas casinos. A complaint charges three felony counts of passing checks with insufficient funds from July 27, 2008, to Jan. 19 at Red Rock Resort, Planet Hollywood and Caesars Palace.

The complaint alleges he wrote 10 separate checks for $100,000 each, for gambling markers. Gambling debts in Nevada are handled as bad check cases.

Walker played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008. He won a championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat and was a three-time all-star for the Boston Celtics.