The Social Network

A justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has disbarred an attorney convicted in California for distributing lewd material to a minor. The attorney failed to report the conviction to Bar Counsel.

The criminal conduct involved “lewd communications via a live video feed and social networking site with a person known by the Respondent to be fifteen years old.”

Among the terms of the criminal probation is a requirement that he “give his probation officer all computer passwords used by him in all e-mail and social networking sites.”

Napa Valley Register reports that the attorney was working as a sociology teacher when the conduct took place:

Napa police stated in court documents that the victim, a 15-year-old Napa boy, met [the attorney] online in April 2009 onStickam.com, a live video feed and social network site.

The victim had his age posted on his profile, the court documents show.

According to police, the suspect e-mailed photos of a naked male and asked the victim to “‘get naked’ for him via the live feed onStickam.com.’” They also talked by phone, police said.

 (Mike Frisch)