Convicted Orange County lawyer rescinds resignation

A San Bernardino attorney who had resigned from the State Bar following a grand theft conviction has rescinded his resignation. But bar prosecutors said they will now seek the summary disbarment of STEVEN PAUL COLEMAN [#196142], 51.

Charles Calix, the State Bar deputy trial counsel who filed misconduct charges against Coleman in six cases, said Coleman withdrew his resignation 10 days after he agreed to give up his license. The resignation had not been accepted by the Supreme Court. Despite the move, Coleman cannot practice law: His probation from a discipline ordered last year was revoked May 1, and he remains jailed on a no bail order.

Coleman was convicted in May of embezzling $184,000 from an Orange County law firm where he once worked. Because the conviction meets the two criteria for summary disbarment — it was a felony and it involved moral turpitude — Calix said his next move will be to seek Coleman's departure from the bar on those grounds.

Coleman also was convicted of two counts of tax fraud with enhancements for excessive taking and aggravated white collar crime.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Coleman had been convicted of bank fraud and his insurance license in another state was revoked for taking client money without providing any services.

Admitted to the bar in 1998, he has racked up 15 different discipline cases, beginning less than three years after his admission. Coleman stipulated to misconduct in the first group of nine cases and was put on three years of probation with a 75-day suspension.

The probation was revoked May 1, and six more cases were pending at the time of his criminal conviction.

However, Calix said rather than pursue those charges, he planned to move for summary disbarment.

"He's already been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and theft is repeatedly defined as moral turpitude," Calix said.

The original sentencing date of May 23 was postponed at Coleman's request. He said he needed more time to review the sentencing report. He faces a maximum of seven years in state prison.

His ethical misconduct includes failing to perform competent legal services, return client files or refund unearned fees, communicate with clients, deposit client funds in a trust account or promptly disburse client funds.