An Oklahoma attorney was arrested this month for his involvement with cocaine. The authorities used the old reverse sting operation to nab Gale McArthur down in Ponca City. The story from NewsOK is here.
McArthur was allegedly in possession of an ounce of cocaine, which police is an amount normally used for trafficking. For his part, McArthur apparently told police he began using cocaine last summer.
The story indicates that cocaine may be making a comeback due to a drop in sales price. Oh, great! Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug that increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and movement in the brain’s reward circuit. Cocaine acts by preventing the dopamine from being recycled, which leads to excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter to build up, which in turn causes the user to experience euphoric effects.
For a long list of adverse medical problems caused by cocaine use, go here.
Over four years ago Ohio lawyer Ramie Ann Resnick was found to have cocaine in her make-up bag and in the glove compartment of her car. In 2006 she was convicted for possession of illegal drugs, and then convicted of resisting arrest and disrupting public service in 2007. But on December 21, 2010, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued the coup de grace by indefinitely suspending her from the practice of law.
The court said the 51-year-old Resnick violated the state attorney discipline rules that prohibit engaging in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude, conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, and conduct that adversely reflects on a lawyer’s fitness to practice. The court's opinion can be found here.
As is the case with all who abuse or become addicted to drugs, there is hope for Resnick. In the future she may apply for reinstatement to the Ohio Bar - but there are conditions. She must first be evaluated by the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program, enter into and comply with a recovery program, provide a report from a qualified mental health profession that she is able to return to the competent and ethical practice of law, and submit to a period of post-reinstatement monitoring of her practice.
Here on the Drunk Lawyer Blog we write about attorneys who are dealing with substance abuse or addiction problems. Those problems often lead to misconduct of some sort, including criminal activity. But the message coming out of Florida is that you are always innocent until proven guilty.
Florida criminal defense attorney Aaron Slavin was charged with illegal trafficking of prescription drugs this last July. The story is here from the St. Petersburg Times.
The twist is this: while Slavin awaits his trial, he is continuing to defend other criminal defendants charged with drug related crimes. Is this "hypocrisy" and "irony" as another defense attorney remarked? Through his own lawyer, Slavin maintains that he has complied with Florida’s disclosure laws and is entitled to continue doing his job. And what if Slavin is ultimately found to be not guilty of the charges against him?
We do not know any of the particulars regarding the charges against Slavin. But we do know that many who have suffered from substance abuse and addiction problems have rebounded and returned to their professions with great success. That is what we hope for all and that is what we hope for Slavin.
This story exemplifies the morally degenerative behavior that may accompany substance abuse and addiction. You can read the full story here, but the short of the story is this:
Several months ago a 67 year-old federal judge from Georgia decided to relax by going to an Atlanta strip club. The judge, who is married with adult children, received a lap dance from a charming young lady. He was so taken by her that he met up with the next day. He paid her for sex as they did cocaine together. Disclaimer: That is NOT her picture.
Their relationship continued with the judge helping his stripper girlfriend buy more drugs over the next few months. He gave her money and accompanied her at times to buy drugs. What he didn’t know was that she cooperated with police and one day in October led him to an undercover cop posing as a drug pusher. He was busted.
The judge is a former Vietnam veteran and supposedly a conservative, who was appointed by President Reagan in 1987.
We have said it here before: drugs and alcohol do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, class, profession or political leanings.
The Florida Supreme Court recently disciplined several lawyers for substance abuse. The full story is here.
Louis Barbieri was ordered to be publicly reprimanded. He had been on probation for five years for alcohol abuse. Ryan Fasso was suspended for two years after he pled no contest to a cocaine possession charge. Philip Irish was found guilty in criminal court of six felony drug charges. He was disbarred. James Tarquin was placed on three years probation for driving while intoxicated and domestic battery.
Alcohol and illegal drugs don’t discriminate based on race, gender, class, or political philosophy. These guys found out that a career in the legal profession does not make one immune from substance abuse or addiction, either.
Note to you corporate in-house counsel: Don’t stash your illegal drugs in a safe underneath your desk. Just ask David Baer, the former corporate counsel for Tom Petters. Last year Petters was convicted for fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges. See here.
That's nice, but what does that have to do with drugs? When the FBI raided the Petters corporate offices they also found cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamines under Baer's desk. See here.
Hey, you know, life as a corporate attorney can be rather stressful. Some lawyers just like to keep a bottle of scotch in their drawer. But when the corporation is involved in fraud and money laundering then the stress level goes way up. When that happens, it’s good to have the extra strong stuff on hand, like a little coke and meth. But don’t keep it under your desk. Apparently that’s one of the first places the authorities look.
Baer was recently charged with three felony drug possession charges. As Thanksgiving approaches, be thankful you aren’t addicted to illegal substances.
Today we take a break from discussing substance abuse in the legal profession to honor the brave men and women serving in the United States Marine Corps. My service in the Marines included a stint as Director of a division Substance Abuse Counseling Center. That's where my involvement with the prevention of substance abuse began.
On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress approved a resolution calling for the raising of two battalions of Marines to fight for independence at sea and on shore. Samuel Nicholas became the first Commandant of the newly formed Marines, and recruiting commenced at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia – the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps. Each year, Marines proudly celebrate November 10th as the birthday of the Corps by honoring those Marines who have come before them. This year, the Marine Corps is paying special tribute to the Marines who served in the Korean War. So will we.
The photograph shown here is that of Marine First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez leading his Marines into action. On September 14, 1950, elements of the First Marine Division conducted a daring amphibious landing 100 miles behind enemy lines at Inchon. Lieutenant Lopez was the first man to scale the 10-ft seawall.
During the subsequent battle, Lieutenant Lopez was shot in the shoulder just as he prepared to throw a grenade. He died while smothering the grenade with his own body, thereby saving the lives of the Marines around him. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. A war correspondent said that Lieutenant Lopez “died with the courage that makes men great.”
After Inchon, the Marines fought their way to Seoul in 10 days. Later in the war, the First Marine Division defeated numerous Chinese divisions at Chosin Reservoir despite being outnumbered 8 to 1. The worst weather in 50 years cut off air support and assaulted the Marines with snow, wind and temperatures of -40 degrees F. Even so, the "Chosin Few," as they would come to be called, decimated 10 Chinese infantry divisions and fought their way back to the sea to rejoin the American forces.
Today, Marines continue to serve in the brave tradition of Lieutenant Lopez and the Chosin Few. November 10, 2010: The 235th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Happy Birthday Marines, and Happy Veterans Day to all who have served. Semper Fidelis.
