Sting with ‘Bait Car’ Snags Lawyer Accused of Keying Poorly Parked Vehicles
Updated: A Seattle lawyer who drives a Porsche has been accused of keying three poorly parked cars and leaving snarky notes criticizing the drivers.
Ronald Clarke Mattson was charged with second-degree mischief in a sting involving a “bait car” straddling the lines of two spaces at Seattle’s Columbia Center, report the Seattle Times and SeattlePI.com. Security staffers acted after receiving reports that someone had keyed two vehicles and left notes criticizing the drivers’ parking skills, calling them a “dweeb” and idiot,” according to charging documents.
Surveillance videos recorded Mattson keying the bait car and showed him parking his Porsche near the two other damaged vehicles, police said. Mattson’s law office is in the building.
Mattson’s lawyer released a statement saying his client has expressed remorse and shame for the incidents and has paid for the damage, the story says. Mattson has also received counseling for “his extremely aberrant behavior,” the statement said.
As detailed in a subsequent ABAJournal.com post, he has now pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor: Caught in Car-Keying Sting, Tearful Lawyer Takes Plea, Gets Community Service .
Updated on June 9 to link to new ABAJournal.com post.