Grady Co. Commissioner Accused Of Using County Resources To Fix His Private Road

A Grady County commissioner was charged with embezzlement and is accused of using country resources to work on the road to his residence. 

Grady County District 1 Commissioner Michael Alan Walker is accused of using road materials purchased by the county to chip and seal a private road that leads to his residence. Walker made his initial appearance in front of a judge Thursday morning. 

Documents filed in Grady County District Court said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation began the investigation in August 2020, after Grady County District Attorney Jason Hicks requested support on an official misconduct case. 

Investigators said in court documents the road was chipped and sealed around June 16 or 17 using $30,000 worth of county funded materials, equipment and workers. 

The estimated cost for prep work and materials was $17,926.16 worth of the total value of the project. The project happened along County Street 2927 near Tuttle.  

County staffer Janna Titler said in charging documents Walker knew the road was not supposed to be maintained by the county when the work was done.

A felony embezzlement charge carries a maximum of eight years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Walker’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14. 

Special Prosecutor Brian T. Hermanson from District 8 County Attorney’s said there were no plans at this point to remove the commissioner from his position before the Oct. 14 hearing. 

Walker’s defense attorney, Doug Carol, said Walker does not think the charges are fair and is looking forward to presenting his side of the story in the future.