An Ellicott City man accused of misusing more than $550,000 was charged yesterday with misappropriation of insurance premiums, Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. announced.

Burke Allen Walker, 45, of the 2900 block of Mount Snow Court is accused of misappropriating insurance premiums belonging to Gerling NCM Credit Insurance Inc. between Oct. 16, 2000, and May 3, 2001, according to officials at the Maryland attorney general's office.

Walker, an independent insurance agent, did not forward the premiums to Gerling and instead used them for his personal business, said officials at the attorney general's office.

A trial date of Aug. 14 has been scheduled. If convicted, Walker could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison and fined $10,000.