State argues man violated his parole
Gary Walden, a landlord convicted of sexual abuse and stealing from a tenant, was put on home confinement Thursday until a hearing can be held to determine if his parole should be revoked.
Judge John Henning found there was probable cause for such a hearing at a preliminary hearing on the matter in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
As part of his parole, Walden was not to take part in any rental activities and in cases of emergency repairs, Walden would need to request and acquire permission from his parole officer. Henning said the order did not specify that it was only properties Walden owned or formerly owned, but any rental property.
The state argued Walden was participating in rental type activities and in one instance, while repairing a water heater for a woman, Walden made an inappropriate comment to her that her boyfriend reported to Walden’s parole officer.
Another facet of the state’s argument was that Walden has not been paying the money he owes as part of a federal consent decree for $500,000, which was issued as part of a federal civil suit.
Henning did not find probable cause on that issue because it’s a matter for the federal courts, he said.
Walden was told that at 5 p.m. Thursday he was on home confinement. He will be officially hooked up Nov. 17, but that “doesn’t mean he’s not on home confinement,” Henning said.
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