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<H4 class=byline>by Jason Kuiper
World-Herald News Service
Published: Friday, December 4, 2009 3:34 PM CST
Charges are beingconsidered after he allegedly is found to have brought marijuana to the jail.
An Omaha attorney whom authorities suspect of trying to smuggle marijuana into the Douglas County Correctional Center could face disbarment and felony charges.
The attorney, identified as Thomas Walsh Jr., has not been arrested, cited or charged. He is being investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Walsh, reached Thursday, declined to comment. His attorney, Jim Schaefer, said there is more to the story than has been reported. He declined to say more.
The Sheriff's Office says an attorney at the correctional center was found to have an envelope containing 43 grams -- about 1½ ounces -- of what was believed to be pot. The Sheriff's Office did not confirm the name of the attorney involved, but said he had the envelope inside a folder.
An ounce or more of pot could involve a felony. Prosecutors on Thursday were considering whether to file charges.
Sheriff Tim Dunning said prosecutors are likely to charge the attorney with felony intent to deliver marijuana. Dunning said his office began investigating the attorney in early November because of the attorney's frequent visits to the jail.
The visit in question occurred about 2 p.m. Tuesday, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Marty Bilek.
Authorities say that as Walsh waited to visit an inmate, he was searched by corrections officers, who, they say, found the substance they believe was pot and think was intended for the inmate.
Forty-three grams would be enough to get more than 50 people high, depending on the quality of the drug, officials said.
Dunning said investigators met with attorney Schaefer on Tuesday night.
Mark Foxall, deputy director of corrections for Douglas County, said jail employees lack arrest powers and cannot detain a visitor. Foxall said that in his nine years there, he could not recall anyone trying to bring in drugs, alcohol or weapons.
Visitors generally aren't allowed face-to-face visits unless the visitor is a lawyer, law enforcement officer, health care professional or reporter. After all face-to-face visits, the inmate is strip-searched.
Dennis Carlson, counsel for discipline with the Nebraska Supreme Court, said the attorney could face punishment ranging from private reprimand to suspension from the practice of law to disbarment. The office of counsel for discipline acts as a prosecutor in discipline cases against attorneys, and the Supreme Court has the authority to impose sanctions.
Carlson said criminal charges aren't needed to conduct an investigation.
</H4>
World-Herald News Service
Published: Friday, December 4, 2009 3:34 PM CST
Charges are beingconsidered after he allegedly is found to have brought marijuana to the jail.
An Omaha attorney whom authorities suspect of trying to smuggle marijuana into the Douglas County Correctional Center could face disbarment and felony charges.
The attorney, identified as Thomas Walsh Jr., has not been arrested, cited or charged. He is being investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Walsh, reached Thursday, declined to comment. His attorney, Jim Schaefer, said there is more to the story than has been reported. He declined to say more.
The Sheriff's Office says an attorney at the correctional center was found to have an envelope containing 43 grams -- about 1½ ounces -- of what was believed to be pot. The Sheriff's Office did not confirm the name of the attorney involved, but said he had the envelope inside a folder.
An ounce or more of pot could involve a felony. Prosecutors on Thursday were considering whether to file charges.
Sheriff Tim Dunning said prosecutors are likely to charge the attorney with felony intent to deliver marijuana. Dunning said his office began investigating the attorney in early November because of the attorney's frequent visits to the jail.
The visit in question occurred about 2 p.m. Tuesday, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Marty Bilek.
Authorities say that as Walsh waited to visit an inmate, he was searched by corrections officers, who, they say, found the substance they believe was pot and think was intended for the inmate.
Forty-three grams would be enough to get more than 50 people high, depending on the quality of the drug, officials said.
Dunning said investigators met with attorney Schaefer on Tuesday night.
Mark Foxall, deputy director of corrections for Douglas County, said jail employees lack arrest powers and cannot detain a visitor. Foxall said that in his nine years there, he could not recall anyone trying to bring in drugs, alcohol or weapons.
Visitors generally aren't allowed face-to-face visits unless the visitor is a lawyer, law enforcement officer, health care professional or reporter. After all face-to-face visits, the inmate is strip-searched.
Dennis Carlson, counsel for discipline with the Nebraska Supreme Court, said the attorney could face punishment ranging from private reprimand to suspension from the practice of law to disbarment. The office of counsel for discipline acts as a prosecutor in discipline cases against attorneys, and the Supreme Court has the authority to impose sanctions.
Carlson said criminal charges aren't needed to conduct an investigation.
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