Leon Walker, Mich. Dad, Faces Trial for Reading Estranged Wife's E-mails

By: Caroline Black
Topics: Daily Blotter

Michigan Father Leon Walker Trial Postponed, Facing Felony Charges for Reading Estranged Wife's E-mails

Leon Walker (AP Photo)

(CBS/WWJ/AP) Leon Walker, a Michigan man facing felony charges for allegedly hacking into his estranged wife's computer to access her e-mails, has had his trial postponed to give his lawyers more time to prepare their case.

Walker, of Rochester Hills, is accused under a state hacking law of reading then-wife Clara Walker's e-mail on a laptop in their home in 2009.

The trial was originally slated to begin this month. Instead, it was rescheduled for April 11, in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac.

Walker, an information technology worker, faces up to five years in prison for violating an Internet computer misuse law which was designed to protect the stealing of trade secrets and identities.

Clara Walker, 35, filed the complaint against her husband last year, after she learned he had hacked into her email account and read emails which exposed an affair she was having with her second husband. He had been arrested on charges of beating her in front of a child she had with her first husband.

Walker claims his now ex-wife had told him the password, and that he originally went into her account to confirm that she was taking their 3-year-old daughter on liaisons with the second husband.

Walker also presented the emails to the first husband because he was allegedly concerned for the child's safety. The first husband then filed for custody of the child and attached the emails to the court filing, reports Arizona Central.

Walker's lawyer Leon Weiss is using the additional time to review police records from the sheriff's office involving spouses and ex-spouses reporting that their e-mails had been read; however, he could not find a single prosecution, says Arizona Central.

Prosecutor Paul Walton said Walker's actions merited the felony charge and that he used the information to "humiliate her."

Leon and Clara Walker divorced in December 2010.

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by beyond_the_sea February 5, 2011 10:18 PM EST

When I read these messages from Leon Walker and his friends, the word "desperate" comes to mind. This case is going to court, right? Then let the system work. The personal attacks and trash talk on this message board make me think Walker has something to hide.

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by Jason40050 February 6, 2011 3:49 PM EST: @beyond_the_sea

You know I was thinking the same thing about this Michael McCulloch guy. It really wouldn't surprise me that some rabid supporter of Mr. walker would post a comment, but what on earth is a lawyer doing posting in a comments section of some news article? He openly claims to represent the accuser! If that doesn't seem suspicious and "desperate" then I don't know what will. I haven't seen anyone here claiming to be Leon Walker or a friend of his, how do you know who is who? How do we know that you aren't Michael McCulloch or a friend of his here because you're afraid of someone speaking out against you?

If this is something that is simply going to play out in court and doesn't want anyone to question his motives, Mr. McCulloch would be wise to not talk about his clients case on a comment section of a news report. IMHO


by 1234fact February 4, 2011 7:15 PM EST: people Mr. McCulloch is trying to do some free advertising on here. The One Link He gives you about the CLEMIS System, he does not give you the follow up report to.. that states After and Investigation in this matter it has been found that Mr. Walker did NOT try to access the CLEMIS system.

If you watch another of his he claims there was NO abuse with Hubby No 2 & Ms. Walker, but yet in another interview she said there was abuse and she had hubby No. 2 taken to jail for it. So lets see here who is the liar here... It's either the Attorney or Ms. Walker and since Ms. Walker had the police report I don't think it's her.

How do you believe anything out of either of their mouths, they talk out of both sides of it. LIES LIES LIES!; Reply to this comment


by 1234fact February 4, 2011 7:03 PM EST: Do you believe your case is a lost cause and you will do anything to try to make all of American think she is the good person here? Well, try again, she slept with other men, she took her daughter over to the x's that abused her, etc. Let me ask you one Question Mr. McCulloch.. how do you sleep at night representing this trash? She should be brought up on Adultry Charges, punishable by Jail time here in MI. Has there been one marriage she has been true to her husband?? NO! Without Leon his daughter does not stand a chance. The mother, Ms. Walker will destroy this little girls as she has destroyed her own life. Oakland County, Clara Walker, Mr. McCulloch wake up and think of this Poor Little Girl for god sakes. What is wrong with you people.; Reply to this comment


by 1234fact February 4, 2011 6:58 PM EST: estranged wifes computer..umm excuse that was his computer before the marriage. He set up her accounts & passwords, and the book near the computer with all the passwords in it???? HMMM Mr. McCulloch, I see your doing some free advertising on this site now. I see you pulled it off or Huffington pulled it off thier site. But Mr. McCullouch we still have the same questions you have not answered...How does a tax attorney get involved with this kind of case? Who is your relationship with Ms. Walker or Hubby No. 2? He you sit tell those lies again, do you know you trying to discredit Leon with these lies I believe their are laws against that. Oakland County put out a statement that Said This accusation was NOT TURE HE NEVER TRIED TO ACCESS THE CLEMIS system. So why do you continue to try to get people to go to these lies? Why is it you can't tell the truth in this case? Just like when we asked you If it was your client, Ms. Walker that was lying when she filed a police report on Hubby No. 2 for abuse or Is it you lying in one of your first outcomes that there was no abuse. You see You lie to people your not credible anymore.; Reply to this comment


by divadvine February 2, 2011 8:50 PM EST: The woman was caught cheating. That's the only reason she's raising a stink. Her only humiliation was he caught her dead to the wrong. She sounds like a real winner anyway... 3 husbands already. She wants to get back with the man that beat her...something is wrong with her. Mr Walker had every right to do whatever he did to protect the children. Seems she don't have the sense to.; Reply to this comment

by Michael_McCulloch February 2, 2011 5:40 PM EST

I represent Clara Walker, ex-wife of Leon Walker who is charged with hacking her emails. The Oakland County prosecutor filed court documents on January 19, 2011 that allege Mr. Walker in the course of his job as computer technician tried to gain access to Oakland County's Court and Law Enforcement Management Information System ("CLEMIS"), a database that is restricted and password protected. Here's links to local TV coverage that include events that occurred after Mr. Walker's alleged attempt to access the CLEMIS system:

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/wife-of-accused-e-mail-snooper-leon-walker-speaks-out-20110121-mr

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/oakland_county/a-man-charged-with-hacking-into-his-wife's-email-may-be-in-trouble-again

You may wish to visit these links to get some balance on this story.

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by longhornsgirl972 February 2, 2011 10:56 PM EST: When you say you "represent" his ex-wife, I believe you are meaning that you are her lawyer. And if that is correct, then isn't it against the law for you to be discussing personal details about the case that you are working on? I believe so, so you can take your lies somewhere else. As far as him being prosecuted, I believe divadvine up there, she is humiliated because she was obviously a loser who can't keep her legs closed, let alone make a marriage work. Then she allows her child to watch the violence that took place. I think that he had every right to verify that 1) she was a cheating ***** and 2) that the child was endangered. I hope he wins the case and your "supposed" client gets all parental rights taken from her.