Ipad Theft From Louisiana Lobbyist Draws Proposed Disbarment

A Louisiana Hearing Committee has concluded that disbarment is the appropriate sanction for an attorney who had defaulted on allegations that he engaged in criminal behavior that violated ethics rules.

The underlying crime? 

He was “arrested and charged with illegal possession of stolen things and obstruction of justice.” 

The stolen thing was an ipad computer that the attorney had taken from a lobbyist in the State Capital building. 

The obstruction of justice came when the police were able to trace the ipad and obtain a search warrant for the attorney’s home. He sought to destroy evidence by throwing the stolen ipad into a swimming pool or pond behind his home.

He was given pretrial diversion and not convicted of any charges.

From the Times Picayune

Fahrenholtz, 65, was booked with illegal possession of stolen property and obstruction of justice in Orleans Parish, and with felony theft in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to Sgt. Nick Manale, spokesman for the Louisiana State Police. According to court documents, State Police and a source familiar with the case, the tablet was reported stolen from inside the state Capitol building by lobbyist James Nickel and was traced to Fahrenholtz’s home in the 2800 block of South Ursulines Avenue on the night of April 22.

Investigators said they executed a search warrant on the home after Fahrenholtz initially denied knowledge of the theft. According to the source, Fahrenholtz was booked with obstruction after detectives determined he had tossed the tablet into a swimming pool in an attempt to hide and destroy the device, which had been electronically tracked to the home.

(Mike Frisch)