All seven county common pleas judges recused themselves from Adams’ case, and visiting judge Dennis J. Langer was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to hear it.
At arraignment, defense attorney David Washington entered not guilty pleas. Langer, who is a retired Montgomery County Common Pleas judge, released Adams on his own recognizance.
Adams is scheduled to be back in court Aug. 9 for a pre-trial hearing. Washington declined comment on the case.
The alleged crimes occurred between June 20, 2017, and Oct. 13, 2020, involving “value of property or services stolen (in the amount of) $7,500 or more and less than $150,000,” according to the indictment.
Adams’ license to practice law is under default suspension after he failed to respond to a four-part formal disciplinary complaint filed by clients against him last September. The matter is now before the Board of Professional Conduct for recommendation on disbarment, which requires action by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The board of professional conduct has recommended permanent disbarment. Adams has 20 days to respond to the notice and recommendation or it will go directly to the supreme court.
Adams was admitted to the bar to practice law in Ohio in 1997, according to Ohio Supreme Court records.
In addition to a private practice, Adams served as a Butler County public defender for 12 years.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the indictment involves Adams’ private civil practice and not his work on criminal cases. Adams worked for the Butler County Public Defender’s office from May 2011 to January 2023, when he resigned, according to a spokeswoman.
Prosecutors say Adams used client money received in a court settlement for personal use.
“Lawyers have what are called ‘client trust accounts,’ and when they are representing in civil cases in which money comes to clients, it passes through the hands of an attorney representing the client going into the trust account for distribution,” Gmoser said.
Adams dipped into a trust account for his personal use, he said.
“The attorney has a fiduciary responsibility to maintain that client trust account and not make any improper disbursement,” Gmoser said.
The case was investigated in-house at the prosecutor’s office. Gmoser said there will be no need for a special prosecutor.
Gmoser would not comment on whether the criminal charges stemmed from the disciplinary action at the supreme court, but said the investigations were likely “contemporaneously conducted.”
According to supreme court documents, the disciplinary counsel complaints allege Adams neglected a client’s personal injury matter and misappropriated $20,231.74 from that client’s personal injury settlement; misappropriated $4,849.93 from a second client’s personal injury settlement; failed to participate in extensive civil litigation brought on by failure to pay a subrogation lien on behalf of a client; failed to pay a $680.76 outstanding judgment on behalf of a client of which he was aware and had negotiated with the opposing party; and engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and failed to cooperate in the disciplinary investigation.
About the Author
