Douglas Crawford, 69, already had a felony historical past and a checkered regulation profession.
Las Vegas lawyer arrested on lewdness expenses
Crawford beforehand confronted jail time after a grand jury indicted him for 5 counts of gross misdemeanor open and gross lewdness. The Clark County District Legal professional’s workplace agreed to dismiss the felony case on account of Crawford’s disbarment. The case was dismissed with prejudice, that means, the case can’t be reopened.
‘Prolific’ sexual harassment incidents at regulation workplace, prosecutor says
Crawford was initially suspended from working towards regulation on July 1, 2022.
Wolfson mentioned all the victims have been on board with the settlement.
Along with sexual relations with a consumer, Crawford admitted to a felony act that displays adversely on the health of a lawyer, and a violation or tried violation of the Guidelines of Skilled Conduct.
“Crawford concedes that the material facts in the petition for disbarment by consent are true and admits that he could not successfully defend against a disciplinary complaint,” the order states.
The report additionally acknowledged the ladies instructed police Crawford paid his employee-victims a considerably increased wage and would bathe them with presents which they believed was an try to maintain them quiet.
Staff additionally instructed police they witnessed Crawford having intercourse with shoppers he was representing on workplace surveillance cameras. One worker mentioned she believed Crawford focused youthful females who have been searching for illustration for divorce or little one custody instances, and he would typically communicate inappropriately with these shoppers.
Police obtained at the least two movies of Crawford having intercourse with shoppers, in line with the arrest report. Detectives additionally carried out an undercover operation by which a feminine detective posed as a consumer who was concerned about a divorce session. Crawford made sexual advances towards the girl, in line with police.
“It was so prolific in fact that Metro sent in an undercover officer – a vice detective, and within 30 minutes of that officer, who was pretending to have a divorce case and giving him facts of that, he was stroking her back and attempting to kiss her,” Chief Deputy District Legal professional Jacob Villani mentioned throughout a Might 2022 courtroom look.
The allegations within the felony case spanned from June 2020 to March 2022. In a Might 26, 2022 press launch, Las Vegas Metro police introduced there could possibly be extra victims.
Crawford was charged with 4 counts of felony theft in 2007. That case was additionally dismissed after Crawford paid restitution to shoppers he stole from, in line with courtroom data. The order of dismissal referred to a playing drawback.
Crawford was briefly suspended from working towards regulation in 2007, then suspended for 5 years in 2009, and reinstated in 2015.
“The petition and supporting documentation demonstrate that Crawford appears to have misappropriated over $100,000 in client funds and has commingled personal funds with client and lienholder funds, and his trust account is accordingly out of balance,” a Might 1, 2007 order acknowledged. “Additionally, he has attempted to prevent clients from complaining to the state bar, and has failed to respond to bar counsel’s repeated inquiries.”
A number of Nevada State Bar paperwork courting again to 2007 acknowledged Crawford posed a risk to the general public.
