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Former deputy public defender arrested on 17 felony counts
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Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff file photo Mark Stein, center, prepares to go before Judge Kevin McGee in June 2007 in the Ventura County courthouse. Stein was arrested Thursday on charges including 17 felonies, investigators said.
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More from County NewsA Ventura defense attorney was arrested Thursday on suspicion of felony identity theft, forgery and check fraud, including accusations that he forged two checks using the identity of a Ventura police officer, authorities said.
Mark Stein, 40, a former deputy public defender, was booked into jail on 17 felony charges and one misdemeanor drug charge.
Stein is accused of stealing personal information and writing counterfeit checks to himself, apparently to feed a drug and gambling habit, according to court documents.
Stein was arrested without incident by Ventura police, who along with the District Attorney's Office had been investigating the attorney for months.
Detained during a traffic stop in Oxnard, Stein was found in possession of a controlled substance, authorities said. He also was driving on a suspended license, Ventura police Sgt. Glenn Utter said.
Stein was being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
Jay Leiderman, Stein's attorney, called the bail amount "totally unreasonable" and described his client as a dedicated former public servant.
"Mark has done a lot of good work for the people of Ventura County," said Leiderman, a former public defender who worked with Stein before both left the office in 2006.
Another former colleague, Anita Candeleria, also criticized the $1 million bail, saying Stein wasn't a flight risk and the figure didn't match the charges. "My feeling is the district attorney is going way overboard," said Candeleria, a public defender whose friendship with Stein stretches back 15 years to when both worked as public defenders in Kern County.
Investigators said Stein manufactured checks using sophisticated software on his home or business computers and opened two Washington Mutual accounts to pass counterfeit checks drawn from others' accounts, according to a 36-page affidavit.
Those whose personal information was allegedly stolen included a Ventura police officer, authorities said.
Stein would deposit the fraudulent checks in his accounts and withdraw large sums before the bank could detect the fraud, the affidavit says. That money was later spent at casinos, authorities said.
Stein put more than $110,000 into various slot machines at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez from August to December, according to casino records obtained by authorities.
In October, Stein was arrested on suspicion of drug use after he arrived several hours late for a court hearing in which he was the defense attorney.
When he arrived, Ventura detectives waiting to testify in the case observed him as possibly being under the influence.
Detectives later served a search warrant at Stein's residence and law office on East Thompson Boulevard. During the searches, detectives found a stolen vehicle in Stein's garage, other stolen property and drug paraphernalia, police said.
Two weeks ago, Stein was arrested by Oxnard police for allegedly trying to cash a counterfeit check worth $400 at a bank in an Oxnard grocery store.
The check was written and signed in the name of one of Stein's former clients, authorities allege.
Posted by CommandoAngel on April 11, 2008 at 5:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy [dripping sarcasm].
Posted by Common_Sense on April 11, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Mark has done a lot of good work for the people of Ventura County," said Leiderman, a former public defender who worked with Stein before both left the office in 2006.
Sure...such as steal their cars, ruin their credit, steal their money....Don't you find it funny that defense attorneys can never find it in themselves to acknowledge that some people are just bad apples? This is why many of us in the public given them no credibility. Bail seems a bit high but look at how many people were 'victims' to this guy....and what, he's now been arrested 2 times in the past couple weeks for the same stuff? Maybe the bail is justified...
Posted by West_to_East on April 11, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait everyone is so quick to critize. This man probably did all the good things they have said. Gotten innocent and guilty people off cases. And helped people in the best possible way. So stop critizising this man. No one is good enough to come on here and critizise anyone.
Everyone is HUMAN and makes mistakes, a addiction is an addiction and people need help. I mean if it was anyone else would you people care no. But because he is a public defender you do. If it was a guy at McDonald's or local grocery store would there even be an article. Public Defenders have stressful jobs if you people might have not known.
No excuse for the crimes this man committed, but you can't knock the good things he has done. 17 counts of felony's, have a nice life in prison. Maybe they will give him good service time for being a defender for inmates and he will get out by 165 yrs old
Posted by JusAnAmerican on April 11, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A criminal defense attorney is a whore with a law degree. Put money in his pocket and he'll say what needs to be said to get other criminals off. It's a natural evolution to see Mr. Steen move on to other types of dishonesty when his very life as a defense attorney was built on lying and cheating society.
Posted by baitsoaker on April 11, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG! West_to_East, did you really just say "This man probably did all the good things they have said. Gotten innocent AND GUILTY PEOPLE OFF"!!!. Oh sure, that's a great thing to do. Let's celebrate a man who allowed the guilty to go unpunished.
This man's mistakes are his own, but the nature of his job make them very public. But wow, drugs, forgery, fraud, identity theft, stolen cars! He is no better than the guilty people that he used to "get off".
Posted by Nosmo_King on April 11, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shouldn't the investigators recover the stolen property that was put into slot machines. If the Chumash Casino has records of the amounts it seems like a no-brainer.
Posted by Pogmothoin on April 11, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets wait for the facts.
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on April 11, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If found guilty, Stein should first suffer the maximum penalty allowed under the law ... after which he should be deported (snicker). The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit performed a great service to the public by getting this scum off of the streets.
I don't buy the bleeding heart stuff about addiction. It was Stein who made the decision to take the first hit of an illegal substance in the first place.
Posted by st_barbie on April 11, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At least he will already have some friends in jail!
Posted by bebez_girl on April 11, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad! where was his head he had a bright future and he literally flushed it down the toilet.
Posted by smithjc on April 11, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and that's why i always refer to them as the "public offender's office"
Posted by golfbalz24 on April 11, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stop knocking public defenders they have a job to do, and if they don't do it somebody else will because it is a job that HAS to be done.
Posted by smithjc on April 11, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
and yes, west to east, some of us CAN come in here and criticize. I have never forged checks, stolen people's identities, possessed or used illicit narcotics, embezzelled from clients, stolen vehicles or other property.....let's see, have i missed anything that he is alleged to have done and i haven't? anyone else who HASN'T done what he did is also fit to criticize. these are not "mistakes", but rather a PATTERN of unlawful activities.
Posted by cambodia_pig on April 11, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, I'm no fan of lawyers, but they are human too.
I also believe that everyone should be personally accountable for their actions...
this is sad.
It goes to show how drugs can ruin people's lives, no matter what profession, age, race, financial bracket, ect...
These charges arre proabably too serious for just a sentence of rehab...
but then this guy went so far as to steal from the people he was supposed to be helping, and nothing can justify that.
What a waste of all that school, hard work and determination...
Posted by Face on April 11, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't criticize this man?? Mistake??? Oops, sorry, I stole your identity and committed fraud. Must have happened when I tripped getting out of the house this morning. Bad luck, that and when I went to the casino, the money jumped out of my pocket into the machines. Talk about a bad hair day. We are routinely seeing our society in the mirror of those in trusted positions. There is no trust, most all of them are cons and frauds. Soon, you will be able to hand a cop a $20 bill to avoid a ticket. Welcome to Nuevo Mexico.
Posted by holdenon_2000 on April 11, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like a Lawyer, rob you blind, then try to convince the public that he is providing a legit services, and should be rewarded.
All lawyers are crooks, They use people in misfortune, to empty their pockets. The lawyer who sued Farmers Insurance made 100's of thousands of dollars, while the victims received checks for $1.49. I'm sure I would not miss the $1 I received, but Farmers will raise the rates to compensate for the money that the lawyer made in the class action suit.
Lawyers are the scum of the earth, I have more respect for prostitutes. And Public Defenders are a joke. Go to court with a public defender, is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. The prosecution has a team of "Judge Kiss-Asses" while you have a "Crook" defending you. All of the cases he has worked on should be re-tried, since he has shown that he is completely in-capable of representing the public. But that will never happen, even though the system forced his public clients to use him.
Posted by john.wayne on April 11, 2008 at 10:53 a.m.
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Posted by rebel123 on April 11, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure hope all of you who feel defense attorneys are whores with a law degree never find yourselves in a legal jam. I guess you think everyone who gets arrested is guilty and we also have no need for judges, juries and the entire juris prudence system. You read about bad apples in every profession, including cops, doctors, teachers....and the list goes on. The line of work did not make this guy a criminal. His choices did. Impugning all public defenders because of this guy is simplistic and ignorant. There are plenty of hard working, honest and dedicated defense attorneys and public defenders.
Posted by george1234 on April 11, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by imbetnonit on April 11, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lawyers think their so smart. But this guy sure wasn't very smart with money, investing it in a slot machine?
Posted by Relvd98 on April 11, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cambodia-Agree, drugs wull ruin one's life, no matter their status in life.
rebel123-Right on it, it is obvious more than half of the comments on here stereotype the profession of public defenders, attorneys, etc., but that's on them.
Mr. Stein will get his trial date, and only there, will justice hopefully be served to the fullest extent of the law.
Posted by smithjc on April 11, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
everyone that this idiot has ever represented and lost their case will be able to file for a trial de novo alleging incompetent counsel as he may have been on drugs during trial. this guy will just be a "gift that keeps on giving".
Posted by CatInAHat on April 11, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
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Posted by ironwoman on April 11, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
west_to_east is probably talking about Stein defending him at one point.
Stein is a dirtbag and leave it to another Public Defender to "defend" his actions.
Tired of excuses.
Posted by jjamison3000 on April 11, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, the amount of blind hatred here is ridiculous. While these are crimes, they are (fairly) minor in the whole spectrum. This guy is no different than the rest of the meth addicted portion of society running amuck these days. Though as an attorney there is, and maybe should be a higher standard. A million dollars is absurd and reaks of bad blood and complete VPD and DA pressure and bs. This is a typical, every day 180 day drug/check case and thats it. Half of these posts are bitter cops and their badge bunny followers. Liederman is an excellant attorney, and the majority of these comments show how out of touch many in this county are with real world problems. Stein will likely get what he deserves: IF he is guilty. But knowing this county im sure some guilty criminal conduct is being exaggerated to the fullest as usual. What about the recent case where the Star laid out that kid with rape allegations, only to have the ridiculousness of the lie exposed first chance in court at prelim. What about the cop who raped, beat his wife, suboerned perjury etc was prosecuted, and got a misdemeanor from the presiding judge and ex second in command DA? You didnt see a million dollar bail did you? Or how about the other cop recently who beat his wife and pulled a gun on her and had an armed stand off with other cops, or the sheriffs who stole all those guns, or what about the REAL scandal about to break with a OPD possible rape of a mentally disabled girl with 4-5 officers about to be laid off? So seriously, you show me any other inmate not only in this county, but in this state, or even country who has a million dollar bail for some check forgery and drug possession, and I will show you a cop who doesnt commit felony perjury when they testify. A defense lawyer is simply a cop/da's trophy deer to mount on the wall and invoke fear in everyone. Many people have their come uppance, defense attorneys, like judges, DA's and far more frequently cops are no different than anyone else. Go ahead and take pleasure in some one elses spiraling downfall, but please shut the hell up and take it when it is you or your family member that takes their fall. Funny how many right wing nuts are the ones crying the most when it happens to them or their kids. And the best thing is, it will does and will happen to them. This guy is doing time in jail, obviously going to lose his license forever, and who knows about his family and friends.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on April 11, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I could not agree with "jjamison3000" more.
The hatred and vitriol on these boards, and much of public discussion gets us nowhere....nowhere at all.
Sounds like this guy, he will be going down. It's not fair to lump others in the justice system with him. It's no different than one cop running amok means all cops are thugs. Both assumptions are wrong.
Let's just deal with the individual, and not the group here.
Posted by zulumaster on April 11, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PUBLIC DEFENDER= YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
Posted by res1q7et on April 11, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure his buddies will get him out of there ASAP. In no time, he'll be dancing his way around the prop 36 program, making a mockery of the justice system.
Posted by CatInAHat on April 11, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This should have been an OR case. A million bucks is stupid. But I am telling you, Mr. Stein does not stand a chance here in the County's judicial system. At least Judge Hunter is gone and cannot prosecute him from the bench.
Posted by Face on April 12, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hatred? Our trusted officials are abusing government credit cards, embezzling, committing fraud, identity theft, gambling with public funds, and us taxpayers should "Keep moving, nothing to see here."? I don't know about you, but blowing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in a couple months at a casino is intolerable! I want to see maximum book throwage.
Posted by sksm on April 12, 2008 at 5:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Face99, why don't you read the facts before commenting. Mr. Stein is not a public official, he is a private attorney who used to be a public defender. I'm certain he left the public defender's office because they became aware of his drug issues. Isn't that we want to happen when government agencies learn of potential problem employees. And...the money he stole was not public funds. Whatever Mr. Stein does has nothing to do with the public defender's office, so quit creating issues where there aren't any.
Posted by jill on April 12, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Addiction - It's happened to judges, cops, all walks of life. But I don't have much patience for it because it starts off as a choice, and these people ruin all the lives around them.
As for the $1 million bail, it sounds steep, but I don't think the victims who had money stolen from them would be very sympathetic towards him.
Posted by del on April 12, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahh yes, mob mentality at its American best.
Most of the comments on here remind me of "The Ox-bow Incident", a novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark.
Posted by jill on April 12, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
del,
I think people are just sick of crimes being committed against them, me included.
Posted by rbreton59 on April 12, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dumb Ass!
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 12, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
West_to_East no but we can CRITICIZE LOL
Nosmo_King ,No ,there is no way to tell how much he spent there , or where the money came from. Plus I am sure he had to hit a few good jackpots now and then. Unfortunately money is untraceable unless of course its marked money from the bank or a sting operation. And I dont think money is property its an asset.
golfbalz24 , I agree they are just doing thier job and if they win the case then obviously the prosecution or DA didn't have enough to find them guilty. Alot are innocent.........
cambodia_pig , I agree, its amazing how certain drugs put people in the state of mind where they will do anything to get money........without any thought of what they are doing to people they hurt.
rebel123 , I agree,there are bad apples everywhere!
smithjc,Didn't think of that ! Wow I wonder if that could happen?????
Posted by newshound on April 13, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jjamison3000 seems to be in the know. While I really think that Mr. Stein sounds like a disgusting person, the information provided by Jjamison3000 should be followed up by the Star. Are cops getting a break? What's this about policemen raping a retarded girl? What??????? That's the kind of story I expect to see on 60 Minutes. The editors of the Star should follow up on this information.
Posted by AnMa on April 14, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the courts should review all his former cases. Bail amount fits the crime.
Posted by cdman on April 14, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Mr. Check-in-Stein will be doing some time in jail for his forgery crime. As for his drug and gambling problem, I'm sure prop 36 will twink him out of doing prison time.
Posted by foolmeonce on April 14, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This man's worst offense will never be prosecuted; he first stole his own innocent children's college savings, and ensured that his elderly parents could never retire by fraudulently running up bills in their name.
Posted by Anita_Raise on April 15, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I say you deport him. Oh, wait a minute. He's not mexican.......
Posted by mrachmuth on April 15, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to the comment by CatInAHat: No, "a similar thing did not happen to Marc Rachmuth. There was no case against me, criminal or civil, no claims of fraud, forgery, bad checks, gambling, or misappropriation of funds. Who is CatInAHat, and why is he/she saying these things?
Posted by sstflyer on April 15, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe Louis "Chuck" Samonsky (Defended David Alvarez who killed Kali Manley) or James Farley, two "fine" defense counselors will come to his defense.
Posted by Relvd98 on April 16, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anita_Raise
Was that comment of yours necessary?
Posted by avoicefromacell on May 10, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay here it is, a voice from a cell:
Foolmeonce; You sound like my ex-wifes Divorce Lawyer. Whoever you are get your facts straight and get a good Lawyer who defends Libel/Slander.
Common_sense; Obviously has very little.
Baitsoaker; Yes, lets celebrate when a Defense Lawyer fights to protect the rights that so many Americans have died to protect, and blame the Government when the guilty go free, not the Lawyer.
Timearrow; Please, you are a cop or spend way too much time in donut shops, those street crime unit officers who break the law daily and waste the taxpayers money on a "witch hunt" know who you are, so be proud of Ventura.
Smithjc; Do you know me? I have not lost many and my performance was above reproach. If you are a Lawyer you are not a very smart one.
Xiotek; Pure ignorance...Go ask a gambler if I have to explain.
Catlover; How oldare you? Sticks and stones.
Sksm; You are wrong and should look up the true facts. If you are from within County Government get ready for your lawsuit... It will be comming, I could go on allday long about the Ventura Public Defenders Office, but that would be unfair to most there who are dedicated and hard working.
Catinahat; I was out on $65k bailbond when arrested. I was on my way to my sons baseball game and after that to pick up a letter of acceptance to an addiction treatment program, to be delivered to the Judge the very next day.
Re: Scheduled Court Appearance. Picking me up early was just another cheap shot at a thorn in thier side. What is sad is that so many cops are dirty and so many prosecuters are blind or look the other way when one of thier own is on the chopping block. My apology to all the honest, hard working officers, you know who you are.
Newshound; Do cops get breaks? I represented a cop in Kern County that did things to female motorists.... He got probation... which was unheard of in that county for his crimes... Perhaps it was my good Lawyering?
Anma; The court saw my performance and it was always above reproach, and top notch. Do you listen to music? It is art, is it good? Do musicians ever use dope? Until you understand what you are saying, dont judge blindly.
Cdman; Humm... Let me guess, you love donuts?
Commandoangel; Say it to my face tough guy! Or are you just another badge believing bunny? Look Ladies and Gents, I am far from perfect, but I never judge unless I know the facts, personally, and I try my best not to kick those that are down. Life is to short for that kind of hatred. The people who hide behind some chosen screen name while throwing stones, clearly are poor souls without happiness in thier own lives, I take pity on you. Again I commend all th "Good cops" and Prosecuters, no offence. I would also like to apologize to Certa, I had no idea. Peace in this time of hatred, sarcasm, and war.
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