“Just Teasing?”
An attorney’s second affidavit to resign from the Bar was accepted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
The affidavit conceded
In late October or early November of 2012, respondent agreed to represent Client against a felony charge of being a fugitive from justice; they agreed for payment to consist of a retainer of $1500. On November 16, 2012, respondent entered his appearance for Client in her criminal case. Later that month, in their first in-person meeting, respondent sought payment of the retainer; Client instead asked for money to feed her children. Then Respondent asked her if they could get into his car “so I can do whatever I want to you.” Client refused, but during the final handshake, respondent pulled Client toward him and made unwelcome sexual contact with her. Client reported respondent’s conduct to the Norman Police Department on November 29, 2012. Along with respondent’s actions during the initial in-person meeting, Client also informed the police that respondent had been texting her to inquire about kissing her 13-year-old and 17-year-old daughters in exchange for discounted legal fees.
On January 24, 2013, the district court dismissed Client’s criminal charges as the time for the warrant to arrive from Texas had expired. Respondent received a copy of the dismissal, but did not inform Client of the district court’s action. On February 3, 2013, respondent began texting Client again to inquire about paying his legal fees. Respondent suggested by text message to Client that she could pay for the legal services by sending him nude pictures of her and pictures of her teenage daughters. When Client asked if he was asking for nude pictures of her daughters, he responded, “Whatever u think will make me smile lol.” Respondent then sent Client an explicit picture of himself. Respondent later sent a text message to Client suggesting that he should come to Client’s home to take the pictures.
Client reported all of respondent’s additional communications to a detective with the Norman Police Department, who asked her to contact the Garvin County Sheriff’s Office. On the evening of February 3rd, a deputy with the sheriff’s office began to text respondent from Client’s phone with Client’s permission. In response to the deputy’s texts, respondent propositioned Client, asking her to wait for him in the nude along with her teenage daughters. Respondent offered his legal services for free in exchange for a sexual encounter with Client and her daughters. Respondent then called Client by phone and agreed to waive all legal fees in return for sexual favors. The next day, respondent persisted with more text messages, prefacing the conversation by stating that he was drunk the night before and he was “just teasing,” but then immediately asking what Client would do for him if her case were dismissed. At no point did respondent inform Client that her criminal case had been dismissed.
The attorney pleaded guilty to misdemeanors charges. Tulsa World reported that he was sentenced to probation. (Mike Frisch)