Man Gets 10 Years In Pot Bust

FLYING POSSUM OWNER LIKELY TO SERVE NINE MONTHS

— The man who took over Flying Possum Leather after his brother, Bruce Walker, died in a store fire was trying to sell marijuana to raise capital for the shop, his attorney said Monday.

Robert Daniel Walker, 65, was sentenced in court Monday to the maximum 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Circuit Judge William Storey suspended eight years of Walker’s sentence.

Walker will likely serve nine months in an Arkansas Department of Community Correction drug program before being released on parole, according to his attorney, Jim Rose III, and Brian Lamb, deputy Washington County prosecutor.

Robert Walker
Robert Walker

Police arrested Walker, his son, James Wallace Walker of Mendocino, Calif., and Aimee Clark, 24, of 300 S. College Ave. in April after identifying a FedEx package shipped from California that contained more than 9 pounds of marijuana.

Rose said after Monday’s court hearing no formal charges were ever filed against Clark or James Wallace Walker.

Robert Walker is the brother of Bruce Walker, who ran Flying Possum Leather on Dickson Street for more than 30 years until he died in a March 2011 fire that destroyed his business.

Robert Walker moved from California to Fayetteville after the fire. He reopened the craft leather store on Block Avenue in April.

Rose said Robert Walker acknowledged he attempted to sell marijuana.

“He’s not a criminal,” Rose said. “He’s just a guy that made a bad mistake.”

Robert Walker apologized Monday to Storey and Fayetteville residents for breaking the law.

“I hope to return to this community as a legal and productive contributor,” he said.

Storey responded, “Your brother was a remarkable person. I’m confident that when you get out — and you will get out in a reasonable period of time — you will be welcome back here in this community.”

Robert Walker said after the hearing that Mallory King, store manager, and Aaron Savage, leather worker, will run Flying Possum during his absence.

“The continued support of the public will determine the fate of the business,” Walker said. “I’m very confident of the hands I leave this business in.”

Walker is set to begin serving his sentence Aug. 13.

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