The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ordered a reprimand of the former Chief Public Defender for Warren County for his interactions with a client who he represented on a probation violation.

He had represented the client on the underlying crimes as well as the probation violation. She was sentence to a four to twelve month term in the Warren County jail.

He was removed as counsel “upon discovery of the communications between him and his client” on a tablet email system that was available to inmates.

Some involved “romantic or sexual content” such as

“I like the daddy part”

“I do have as bad ass bitch xoxoxo”

“Love [you] too”

“The key is to get the DOC to accept your hot ass”

A search of the client’s cell found a letter addressed to “Dear My Future Husband” which “described in explicit detail the sexual acts [she] would perform for [Respondent]…”

He self-reported the misconduct to the ODC.

Respondent had no prior discipline in 24 years of practice. He had endured the recent death of his wife after caring for during her extended illness.

He had met and become friends with the client near the end of his wife’s life while visiting the coffee shop where she worked. They had engaged in “light-hearted sexual banter” before she became a client. (Mike Frisch)