Romance With Non-Client Leads To Censure

The Wyoming Supreme Court has censured an attorney for misconduct that involved his relationship with a person who had never been his client.

The attorney had served as a public defender in Rawlins.

He was in a romantic relationship with a woman who had pleaded guilty to a second degree sexual abuse of a minor offense. She was given a three to eight year suspended sentence and placed on probation with a requirement that she comply with the provisions of the state Sex Offender Registration Act.

When he moved to Sweetwater County and went to work for the county attorney’s office, she resided with him. She failed to advise her probation officer of the move.

The probation officer seized her cell phone and had a forensic examination performed that revealed the undisclosed residence.

Unfortunately the attorney’s apartment complex  was less than 200 feet from a public school.

That situation violated a probation term.

When contacted by the probation officer, the attorney initially was “consistently deceptive” in his responses.

Proceedings are underway on probation revocation.

The attorney self-reported, was fully cooperative and expressed remorse. He also received a pro bono award from the State Bar in 2018. (Mike Frisch)