1 week Ago By By PATRICK CLOONAN [email protected]
The case of a Pittsburgh area man jailed in Indiana County on drug trafficking charges has come back to haunt the Pittsburgh attorney who, for a time, was representing him. On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board suspended attorney Milton E. Raiford from the bar of the commonwealth for one year and one day.
On July 1, 2019, David Lee Walker Jr., 35, of North Versailles Township, Allegheny County, was charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drugs and paraphernalia. His first attorney, for much of the early process through magisterial and common pleas courts, was Indiana attorney Annmarie Ellen Everett.
However, according to court records, Raiford made an entry of appearance on May 18, 2021, “in exchange for $8,000,” according to the record of the Disciplinary Board. However, the disciplinary court record went on, “Mr. Walker actually paid beyond the agreed amount due to his request for additional services outside what was initially agreed upon.
” Walker’s mother paid Raiford $9,250 in cash, according to that record. The court record indicated that Raiford had previously represented Walker “on traffic stuff.” The disciplinary board went on to record that Walker would enter a plea of guilty “to manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver controlled substances,” for which on April 25, 2022, Indiana County Common Pleas President Judge Thomas M.
Bianco sentenced Walker to two to four years in a state correctional institution. Raiford was supposed to enter an appeal on or before May 25, 2022 — but the disciplinary board’s record indicated that Raiford “failed to respond” to a text sent by Walker’s fiancee. Raiford eventually did respond in a text on May 23, 2022 — “(If) David appeals, he will lose and be exposed to 7 1/2 years in prison from the door.
David is a child spoiled by his mom who lives a child’s life who always latches on to someone like you.” According to the court record, Walker later wrote to Bianco, saying, “I wanted to inform you that I have made several attempts to (sic) my attorney Mr. Milton Raiford (sic) that I wanted to appeal and withdraw my plea.
I have been trying to contact him, my mother and my fiancee (sic) have made several attempts to (sic) him there are numerous things on appeal I would like to address.” Raiford had other problems. He previously had been disbarred for a time, something noted in the disciplinary board’s record, and he was having what was termed “an ongoing and well-publicized feud” with Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A.
Zappala Jr. The board concluded, “The 2022 misconduct involved two matters,” the feud being one of them. “In the other matter,” the board said, “(Raiford) sought to withdraw as counsel and made statements in open court that were adverse to his client’s interests.
” Walker’s court record has continued to this day, with Ebensburg attorney Timothy Sean Burns appointed by the court to represent him..
