A former 2005 MATC student, Montaous Walton has found himself in serious trouble with law enforcement as well as professional baseball scouts and teams.
The 28-year-old Walton maintained a series of stories and interviews over a five-year period claiming to have signed contracts with two professional baseball teams as well as attending baseball camps that prepare players for the big leagues. Walton has left a trail of deception that has angered some scouts and even the Minnesota Twins that is considering a lawsuit against him. Milwaukee authorities have already caught up with his fantasy and have charged him with two counts of theft by fraud for allegedly posing as a professional baseball player to two sports agents.
Walton accepted money, goods and services in the amount of $4,500 from a California agent in August 2011 and from an agent in Ontario, Canada during June 2012 for $1,200 according to the complaint.
Walton interviewed with the MATC Times newspaper on three occasions sounding very convincing and jubilant. On each occasion Walton was photographed and interviewed by Times reporters and photographers.
For this story calls were made to the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada who commented through their spokesperson, “at no time Walton ever signed or played for us.” Calls were made as well as emails to the Minnesota Twins, no calls were answered as of press time.
Additional calls were made to the American Baseball Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Their spokesperson said they had no contact with Walton at their present location.
Walton claimed to have been trained by the institute while they were in Seattle prior to their Florida location.
During that period Walton also claimed to have made contact with the famous scout Fred Ferria in 2008.
Walton claimed to have contact with an organization called Seven Bridges, who sent out a press release on PRLOG informing sports readers about his signing with the Toronto Blue Jays on September 29, 2011.
Seven Bridges refused to comment and will not in the future according to their emailed response.
Claims made by Walton became well publicized beginning in May 2007 to June 2012.
Some of those dates include;
• May 10, 2007 MATC Times interview and story (claimed to attend universities in Michigan, Platteville and Whitewater prior to attending MATC in 2005)
• November 12, 2007 Message board about Walton (posted in international baseball forum baseball-softball.org)
• December 4, 2008 MATC Times interview and story (claimed to attend the American Baseball Institute in Seattle, WA)
• September 17, 2009 MATC Times interview and story (claimed again to have been signed with Minnesota Twins through scout Billy Corrigan)
• February 6, 2010 Milwaukee Courier interview and story with Frederick Dakarai (claimed to be signed with the Minnesota Twins)
• March 10, 2010 WTMJ Channel 4 (claimed to be going to pro baseball in brief television segment ‘Big League Dreams’)
• February 12, 2011 Battersbox.ca blog comments on Montaous Walton’s career saying “may be a figment of your or his imagination.” Link posted where Walton claimed to have signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Link not accessible (http://www.am1570thescore.com/downloads/podcasts/page_3)
• August 2011 money and goods accepted (California agent believes Walton and provides money, services and goods valued $4,500)
• June 2012 Money and goods accepted (Canadian agent believes claim that Walton signed with Toronto Blue Jays and provides $1,200 money, goods and services
May 10, OnMilwaukee.com
published an extensive follow-up on Walton titled ‘Who Is Montaous Walton’ by Jim Owczarski.
OnMilwaukee.com provided detailed information on how Walton made contact with many parties involved as well as pictures and a copy of the bogus contract.
June 7, Josh Levin of Slate.com’s Browbeat reacts to his initial contact with Walton in a story titled, ‘The Downfall of a Phony Ballplayer.’ On June 20, Cary Docter on fox6now.com detailed Walton’s criminal complaint. June 23 Lynda Jones of The Milwaukee Courier provided an updated story online regarding Walton’s demise and false statements made to their freelance reporter, Frederick Dakarai for a previous story.
Walton was charged on June 8 for two counts of Theft/False
Representation including one as a Felony and one Misdemeanor following an arrest at his home, an extensive search warrant produced sports related materials.
Walton’s next court date is July 10. He faces a possible sentence of 3 ½ years as well as a $10,000 fine.
Walton never claimed to have played for the MATC Stormers.