Former University of Florida basketball player arrested for stealing a $3 taco

Less than a week after playing his last basketball game for the University of Florida, former point guard Erving Walker was caught trying to make a fast break from a taco vendor. Walker ran off with the taco without paying for it, and also ran from police before being caught and arrested, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. Walker, the all-time assists leader at the school, did not spend the night in jail. He was charged with Florida petit theft and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. It’s highly unlikely that Walker will spend any time in jail. In similar cases, Walker might have to do some community service, pay a fine and perhaps enter a pretrial diversionary program.

In many criminal cases, the arrest can be sealed or expunged from a person’s record. For someone like Walker, though, it will never really go away. Right or wrong, he’s a public figure and when he stumbles like this, it’ll make the news. He’s surely not the first – or the last – college student to steal a taco in the wee hours of the morning, but he might be the first to be in the newspaper for it. He’ll be asked about it down the road and it will surely come up again. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help negotiate on Walker’s behalf and could have a shot at getting the charges dismissed or even having adjudication withheld – which means Walker’s criminal record would not show a conviction if he completed all terms of his probation. It’s even more important for someone living a far more anonymous and typical existence compared to Walker’s. Everything seems to be Google-able these days if someone is looking hard enough, but getting the charges dropped or adjudication withheld is the first step in moving forward and trying to protect yourself from long-term consequences. Even if it’s not Google-proof you or your loved one would benefit by having an explanation at the ready – one that includes the charges being dropped or expunged from any criminal record. Our Theft and Resisting Arrest without Violence Lawyer knows while these cases are small potatoes in the grand system of our massive criminal justice system, they are the biggest cases in the world to you or your loved one and we treat the case that way. If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm, PA at (904) 365-5200 for a free consultation. Our Duval County theft lawyer is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.