Posts Tagged ‘Impersonating a Lawyer’

Obstructing Justice Charges Withdrawn, No Jail Time for Fraud Charges

Posted in Criminal Cases (Non-Driving), Fraud

My client, who had a criminal record, was charged with Obstructing Justice (a straight indictable offence) and Fraud for passing himself off as a lawyer and attempting to represent an individual charged with a criminal offence.  These were very serious allegations and the Crown was seeking a jail term.  On the date set for a preliminary inquiry, I had a meeting with the judge and the Crown attorney.  At the meeting, I managed to convince the Crown not to proceed on the Obstruct charge after arguing that my client’s actions did not make out the elements of that particular charge. My client then entered a guilty plea to the fraud charge.  At sentencing, the Crown still sought a jail term but I successfully convinced the judge to impose a suspended sentence with probation instead.