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Prosecutors: 80-Year-Old Man Harassed His Attempted Murder Victim

By Emily Morris | March 3, 2013 10:49pm
 Walter Wilson, 80, was charged with unlawful communication, violating an order or protection and harassing a witness.
Walter Wilson, 80, was charged with unlawful communication, violating an order or protection and harassing a witness.
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Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors said an 80-year-old Auburn Gresham man repeatedly called and left messages telling a woman he's accused of trying to kill to drop charges against him.

Between Jan. 1 and the end of February, Walter Wilson called the victim multiple times and left messages, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Lisa Morrison said Sunday. He called the woman's cell phone more than 25 times, according to police reports.

Wilson shot the victim in 1989 and was convicted of aggravated battery, prosecutors said. He received four years probation.

He then allegedly shot the same woman again in 2011 inside a hair salon and was charged with attempted murder, Morrison said. Bond in that case was set at $350,000 by Cook County Judge Jackie Marie Portman in August 2011, according to court records. Wilson apparently made bail and was released pending trial.

Wilson called and told the victim to drop charges, and when she refused, Wilson said he was going to "get everybody that's involved," leading the victim to "fear for her life," according to police reports.

Wilson, of the 8700 block of South Bishop Street, was arrested Saturday charged with unlawful communication, violating an order of protection and harassing a witness.

Wilson, who turns 81 next week, suffers from prostate and colon cancer, according to court documents. Wilson and the victim have a child together, Morrison said.

The 2011 case is ongoing, and he received an order of protection that warned him not to contact the victim, who is now 54 years old, according to Morrison and police reports. Wilson admitted to police that he called the victim and knew it was prohibited by the court order, Morrison said.

During bond court Sunday, Cook County Judge Israel Desierto set bail on the new charges at $250,000. However, Wilson will be held without bond for violating the conditions of his release in the attempted murder charge.