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.

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