Hearing continued for disbarred lawyer charged in theft, deceptive business practices
The preliminary hearing for a disbarred lawyer and former state representative charged by McDonald police earlier this year with theft and deceptive business practices for allegedly accepting money and not doing the requested legal work has been continued for 60 days.
Jesse White, 39, of 3249 Millers Run Road, Cecil, had been scheduled for a hearing Thursday before District Judge Traci McDonald.
Kristin Clingerman, assistant district attorney, said the hearing was continued with several conditions to allow White to receive a mental health evaluation and seek any treatment that may be recommended. He is also required to take a minimum of eight gambling addiction treatment sessions and provide the court with a letter updating his progress and participation, she added.
White is also to pay the alleged victim $2,500 in restitution. A Coraopolis man told Officer William Nimal he hired White in April 2016 to enforce a surface agreement against Consol Energy. He reportedly gave White a check and received a copy of an invoice showing the payment.
The man learned in March 2017 that White’s law license was being suspended. He then reportedly received a notice from White’s law office to collect his personal files because the office was closing. The man found nothing in the file to show any legal work had been done. White also reportedly failed to return any money for the uncompleted work.
The state Supreme Court issued an order in June disbarring White on his own consent after allegations surfaced he had misappropriated money entrusted to him in 2015 and 2016 by clients. White tenured his unconditional resignation from practicing law in Pennsylvania. He had an office on South McDonald Street in McDonald.
Jack Puskar, White’s defense attorney, said his client is intent on resolving the situation. White also wants to make the victim whole, Puskar added.
“He will be glad to have this resolved for his sake and that of his victim,” Puskar said. “He will absolutely follow through with the conditions.”
Clingerman said once White completes the conditions, he will face a summary charge of disorderly conduct. A new hearing will be scheduled for June.
White was admitted to the bar in 2003. He was elected to the state Legislature representing the 46th district in 2006, serving until he was defeated in 2014.