No-show lawyer at theft sentencing gets another chance to appear on Monday
The courtroom was packed Wednesday for the scheduled sentencing of a Colorado immigration lawyer found guilty in December of 13 of 21 felony theft counts.
Defendant Emily Cohen, however, wasn’t there. Boulder District Judge Andrew Hartman rescheduled sentencing for Monday, warning that it will take place regardless of whether the attorney is present. Cohen’s lawyer, Beth Kelley offered no explanation for her absence, reports the Denver Post.
District attorney Stan Garnett is seeking a six-year sentence for Cohen. The government said she accepted $41,000 in fees from immigrant families but failed to perform promised work to get them visas and work permits.
He said he wasn’t surprised by the sentencing no-show. “This case has a long history, and much of it involves Ms. Cohen delaying the inevitable.”
Garnett said at trial that Cohen took advantage of vulnerable clients who spoke limited English and had immigration issues that made them reluctant to seek help from authorities. However, Cohen’s then-attorney, Steven Louth, portrayed her as a young attorney overwhelmed by the responsibilities of practice and taking care of a baby as a single mother, the Daily Camera reported at the time.
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