Sunday, May 30, 2010

Lawyer Disbarred Over Trust Fund Theft

A Bartlett lawyer suspended in March after he was charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a children's trust fund now has been disbarred.

James M. Hoots was arrested in February.

He was charged with felony theft of property for allegedly stealing some $76,000 and gambling it away at the Tunica casinos.

The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Hoots has consented to disbarment because he cannot successfully defend himself on a complaint of misappropriation of funds.

Hoots, 56, admitted to the administrator of the children's estate that he had taken the money and that he had a gambling problem, according to an affidavit.

"I took the children's money and took it to Tunica to try to make more money," administrator Lana Scott said Hoots had told her in November.

Full Article and Source:
Memphis Lawyer Disbarred Over Children's Trust Fund Theft

3 comments:

StandUp said...

He took it to Tunica to make more money FOR HIMSELF.

He left those two important words off.

Anonymous said...

How much more do you think he stole before he got caught?

Zack said...

As well he should be - right before going to jail!