Criminal Justice

Lawyer accused of billing more than 24 hours per day is found in Nicaragua

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Authorities have arrested a suspended Charleston, West Virginia, lawyer who went on the lam in 2016 after he was accused of billing the state for indigent defense work that he didn’t perform.

The lawyer, William Lester, was arrested in Nicaragua on Thursday, report WSAZ and WCHS TV.

Lester was indicted on charges of fraudulent pretenses and computer fraud for alleged overbilling. He didn’t show up for an arraignment in 2016 and has been missing ever since.

A review had found that Lester billed the state more than $600,000 for indigent defense work during a two-year period, according to previous coverage. The review allegedly found that Lester billed the state for more than 24 hours per day on at least 17 days.

See also:

ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer accused of billing over 24 hours in a day suspended; but official said others were worse”

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