Ethics complaints against an Augusta attorney might mean harsher punishment if he's convicted of crimes in connection with the local mental health center.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
|
Have a thought?
Go to the Forums or Chat.
|
|
|
Attorney Paul David, the first to be indicted in a joint state- federal investigation of fraud and theft at the Community Mental Health Center of East Central Georgia, faces two felony charges in Richmond County Superior Court.
Assistant Attorney General Harrison Kohler filed notice Thursday that he will present evidence of ethical complaints if Mr. David is convicted of tax evasion or false writings.
Mr. Kohler listed nine separate complaints about Mr. David filed by his clients.
Mr. David was indicted in April by a Richmond County grand jury. He is accused of lying about the terms of a $224,000 settlement package for Campbell Peery, a former executive director of the Community Mental Health Center.
Mr. David, who served as the center's attorney until a blistering state audit criticized his arrangement with its board, also is accused of not filing state tax returns for 2000, 2001 and 2003 and of trying to evade more than $3,000 in income tax.
While Mr. David was the first to be indicted, the major indictment was issued in May when former Georgia Rep. Robin Williams and business associates were charged in a 30-count federal indictment.
Mr. Williams, C. Michael Brockman, Duncan Fordham, Rick L. Camp and M. Chad Long are accused of a conspiracy to use the Community Mental Health Center to steal about $2 million in health care funds.
Mr. Brockman was the center's executive director. Mr. Fordham owns Duncan Drugs, which had a lucrative contract with the center. Mr. Camp and Mr. Long are both lobbyists who billed the center for services.
Mr. David has pleaded innocent to his state charges, and Mr. Williams and the others have pleaded innocent to the federal charges.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
