Torching Wife’s Messy House Sends Legal Career Up in Smoke

An attorney who is also a former councilman in the Pennsylvania town of O'Hara has been disbarred, after admittedly setting his estranged wife's house on fire because it was too messy for his taste.

Samuel Pontier, 57, was also criminally convicted after the Dec. 29, 2006 blaze, which injured his disabled 17-year-old daughter. She was unable to flee the fire because of her cerebral palsy and suffered smoke inhalation and burns to her esophagus, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Originally charged with attempted homicide, among other crimes, Pontier pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and arson and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison. He was also suspended from the bar at that time, having voluntarily given up his license, the newspaper writes. His disbarment was announced yesterday by the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board.

His defense attorney reportedly said earlier that Pontier had been abusing drugs and alcohol and was suffering from manic depression at the time of the fire.

Hat tip: Legal Blog Watch.