Sunday, August 22, 2010


A New Jersey lawyer was recently kicked out of a county drug rehab program for continuing to take drugs. A criminal prosecution as well as suspension or disbarment might be in the future.

The story is here.

In 2008, New Jersey police allegedly found methamphetamines and heroin in the New Jersey home of Michael Rowek, a personal injury attorney. Instead of being prosecuted, Rowek was admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI). New Jersey’s PTI is an alternative to the typical method of prosecuting criminal defendants. When a defendant completes the rehabilitative services provided by PTI, there is no record of a conviction.

As a first time offender, Rowek qualified for PTI and was placed on probation for one year while he was expected to complete a drug and alcohol evaluation. Except he didn’t. Instead he continued to test positive for drug use and ignored probation appointments.

When advised in court that his enrollment in the program would be terminated, the attorney sadly broke down.

Link back to SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLE.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Attorney Busted For Indoor Pot Farm


Should marijuana be legalized? At least one Philadelphia attorney may think so – after he was charged with conspiracy to grow and distribute 1,000 marijuana plants!

According to federal prosecutors, attorney Richard Creamer co-owns a warehouse in North Philadelphia that was turned into an indoor marijuana farm. Creamer and others may have been planning to expand their pot growing operation to Northern California before the authorities interceded.

The story is here and here among other places.

Creamer’s attorney says Creamer had no idea that pot plants were being grown in his warehouse, although he maintained a private office inside. But Creamer’s co-owner has already pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy, manufacturing and distribution charges.









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