Lee County attorney arrested in court

Author: wink news
Published:

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A local attorney was arrested inside a Lee County courtroom.

The State Attorney’s Office confirms J. Patrick Buckley was arrested for scheme to defraud, and practicing law while disbarred or suspended.

His license was suspended January 5, but the Florida Bar says he continued to represent clients. Buckley was arrested during a court appearance for an unrelated charge.

“It tends to undermine the public’s faith in attorneys in general, because if the attorneys can’t follow the rules, why should the public?” said local attorney Ian Mann.

Buckley was first arrested back in May on charges of grand theft, fraud and practicing law while disbarred or suspended. Investigators say he stole thousands of dollars from his clients.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.