Bend couple accused of over $700,000 in company thefts

A month after a Bend construction company’s office manager was arrested on forgery and theft charges, an indictment has greatly expanded the scope – more than $700,000 allegedly stolen by him and his wife in the past four years, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Wednesday.

Last Friday, William Walton III and his wife, Juli Ann Walton, were indicted by a grand jury on charges they stole the money from Jack Robinson & Sons Inc. and its subsidiary, 4-R Equipment LLC, over a four-year period, from January 2011 to June of this year, Hummel said.

The indictment charges the Waltons with 48 felony counts of first-degree aggravated theft, aggravated identity theft and fraudulent use of credit cards, the DA said.

They also were indicted on eight counts of criminal forfeiture, alleging several bank accounts, vehicles and personal property seized by the sheriff’s office are proceeds from the crimes.

The couple are scheduled to be arraigned on the charges this week, Hummel said.

He noted that Jack Robinson & Sons is a general contracting firm that has served the region for 62 years.

In early July, the sheriff’s office was contacted by the company regarding a large amount of money stolen by an employee. Detectives said they learned William Walton III had been forging company checks into his own name and depositing them into a personal account.

The detectives followed up with an extensive two-day search of the suspect’s home, gathering evidence that led to the indictment.

Walton posted bail and was released from jail following his arrest. Juli Ann Walton is expected to be booked at the jail after their arraignment, scheduled for Thursday. William Walton’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 28.