CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County District Attorney, William A. Shaw, Jr., announced today that a DuBois man has been sentenced for the theft of gas rights.
Shaw identified the defendant as John S. Walker, age 59, of West Long Avenue, DuBois.
On August 6, 2010, Trooper Kimberly Ronan of the Pennsylvania State Police, Clearfield Barracks, filed a criminal complaint charging Walker with: 1) theft by deception, F3, 33 counts; and 2) tampering with public records of information, F3, 2 Counts.
An affidavit of probable cause filed by Ronan provides that in March 2010, the Pennsylvania State Police began an investigation into the theft of 40 percent of the gas and oil interests underlying multiple parcels within a 2,765 acre tract of land in Morris Township. Upon investigation it was found that Walker had recorded two fraudulent deeds in Clearfield County, establishing the ownership of 40 percent interest of gas and oil rights underlying the 2,765 acre tract of land in Morris Township. Walker’s fraudulent recording of the two deeds effected the ownership interests of at least 33 property owners in Morris Township.
On January 27, 2011, Walker tendered a plea of guilt to the charges of: 1) theft by unlawful taking, F3, 33 counts; 2) tampering with public records of information, F3, 2 counts; and 3) criminal attempt/theft by unlawful taking, F3.
Prior to Walker’s sentencing, he was required by the terms of the plea agreement to clear the title to the oil and gas rights for the 2,765 acres of all of the defects created by the recording of the fraudulent deeds, and Walker was required to return any and all of his ownership interests in the oil and gas rights to the lawful owners.
On March 22, 2011, Walker appeared for sentencing at which time the Honorable Judge Paul E. Cherry sentenced him to a ten year term of probation, upon condition that Walker serve one year on electric home monitoring. Cherry also ordered that Walker pay $25,000.00 in restitution, with $5,000.00 payable on March 22, and the remaining $20,000.00 to be paid in monthly installments of $834.00. Walker was further ordered to not enter the Clearfield County Courthouse without prior approval from his probation officer, and is also prevented from filing or recording any deeds of any nature without prior approval from his probation officer.
Shaw stated that the fraudulent recording of deeds can impact the lawful owners for years if corrective action is not taken. Shaw explained that the terms of the plea agreement provided the most efficient and effective way for the ownership rights to be restored to the lawful owners without requiring each owner to independently pursue the costly procedures of filing a lawsuit.
Shaw said that honest hard working citizens of our community should not be required to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees to regain ownership of their gas rights. Shaw also said that he was pleased with the investigation by the State Police in this case.
Anyone with knowledge or information about a crime is asked to call Clearfield County Crimestoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site and selecting “Report A Crime”.
