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Posted on 12/15/2001 3:33:57 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox

We Need Help!

Thomas McCoy Richardson is applying to re-instate his license to practice law in the state of SC. A hearing is to be held January11, 2002. His license to practice law was indefinitely suspended October 27, 1997 retroactive to May 10, 1996. The day he was sentenced after a guilty plea was entered by his own voice.

It is our position that convicted felons should not be allowed to represent the law. South Carolina is one of the few states that allows felons to practice law. This man pled guilty to ABHAN (assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature) and indecent exposure in 1996. Both of the charges involved a child under the age of 14 years. As a result of a plea bargain this man was sentenced to 13 years in prison but suspended to five years probation. He has been proven to violate his probation (hearing June 2000) and demonstrated a total contempt for his victim and the legal process.

All of these statements are a matter of public record and can be verified with copies of arrest warrants, indictments, plea agreements and court orders.

We now have the opportunity to present statements from concerned citizens about the re-instatement of this license. In a public notice of the hearing before the Committee on Character and Fitness the public may file notice of their opposition to the Petition for Reinstatement. Comments by way of letters may be sent to:

Committee on Character and Fitness
P.O. Box 11330
Columbia, SC 29211
In the Matter of Richardson, 328 S. C. 161, 492 S. E. 2d. 788 (1997)

If you have a position on this matter or the fact that any lawyer can practice law after having been convicted of a felony please write a letter the committee. The voices of the citizens of this state need to be heard so that we do not have such people in positions of trust and authority. A very careful review of all statements will be conducted before the hearing and before a decision is made. As a convicted felon he cannot work in a bank, as a teacher, as a doctor or even vote but he can practice as an attorney. How can someone with such contempt for the law be trusted to represent the law or citizens in court? Are you willing to write a letter to prevent this man from practicing law with a criminal history and make a statement that this is not the kind of person you want in positions such as this?

Thank you!

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Thomas McCoy Richardson

12/14/1994 Thomas McCoy Richardson committed a lewd act on a minor in violation of SC Code16-15-140. This was done in the local Wal-Mart store in Florence, SC

10/17/1995 Thomas McCoy Richardson committed the offence of indecent exposure in violation of SC Code 16-15-130 He was arrested at the local Wal-Mart store in Florence, SC.

10/18/95 Mr. Richardson was served with arrest warrant for charge of indecent exposure.

12/04/1995 Carlos Raines of the FPD served Mr. Richardson with an arrest warrant for lewd act on a minor while Mr. Richardson was a patient at a residential treatment facility.

03/07/1996 Mr. Richardson was indicted for LEWD ACT ON A MINOR defined as &;"he did willfully and lewdly commit a lewd and lascivious act upon and with the body of one ****** ******, a child under the age of fourteen years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to and gratifying the lust, passions and sexual desires of himself." He was also indicted for INDECENT EXPOSURE defined as: "he did willfully and maliciously indecently expose his person in a place of public resort or to the view of the public and to persons traveling and in public places or on the street or highways and was improperly and inadequately clothed."

03/11/96 A plea agreement was reached and Mr. Richardson pled guilty to ABHAN (Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature) and Indecent Exposure

3/12/96 Mr. Richardson was sentenced to terms of 10 years prison for the ABHAN charge and 3 years prison for the indecent exposure charge and the sentence was suspended to 5 years probation for both charges with the following restrictions:
1.) Continue intensive therapy or any counseling directed by Probation Office
2.) Pay for Victim's counseling if required
3.) Register as a sex offender
4.) Have no contact with children through work or otherwise
5.) Probation Agent is to keep Solicitor's Office Victims Assistance Advocate advised of subject's counseling.
Mr. Richardson's Probation transferred to Richland County, where Mr. Richardson was residing.

9/27/1997 Mr. Richardson's license to practice law was indefinitely suspended retroactive to May 10, 1996.

03/1997 Victim required additional counseling at expense of $120 provided by ***** ***** based on referral of Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault who had provided individual, family and group therapy immediately after the assault.

05/02/1997 Mr. Richardson served notice to Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services (DPPPS) Motion to Terminate Probation.

05/09/1997 A hearing in the court of Richland County, SC was held with no notice to victim or her family to terminate probation of Mr. Richardson. Motion granted by Judge Frank Eppes.

September 1997 Victim's family was notified of the petition for pardon to be processed by DPPPS in Florence, SC. Request for impact statement was met with alarm that he had been released from probation at all.

September through December 1997 Carl Lundberg of the DPPPS Legal Office was contacted and after several conversations and a thorough investigation into the matter Judge Eppes reversed his order to terminate probation and Mr. Richardson was once again placed on probation for the duration of 5 years to terminate August 27, 2001 (continuing for the term he was released inappropriately). Several changes were made in the regulations of DPPPS to prevent this type of action in the future.

June 1999 It was discovered that Mr. Richardson had his probation transferred to North Carolina so that he could pursue a job opportunity. North Carolina had not as yet processed the transfer of supervision. Mr. Richardson returned to Richland County SC for supervised probation for the completion of his term.

January 2000 Victim resumed therapy. Issues identified by therapist support need for further counseling and confirmation provided to DPPPS this is a direct result of the assault by Mr. Richardson. Her therapist is licensed by the State of SC and provides adolescent and family counseling. Arrangements were made for all charges to be reimbursed by Mr. Richardson through the DPPPS. Sessions were to be weekly and at a charge of $80.00 per session.

DPPPS began sending reimbursements to victim's parents. After 2 months Mr. Richardson lapsed in reimbursement. DPPPS was contacted several times and demands for reimbursements were made. Debbie Curtis of the Governor's Ombudsman's Office for Victim's Advocacy was contacted and intervened in the interest of the victim and family. Arrangements were made for the continued restitution. Mr. Richardson began to make notes on money orders such as: "victim", "reimbursement,", "therapy", and other demeaning notes. DPPPS was contacted to have these notes stopped immediately and Mr. Richardson was instructed to make no such notes on the money orders. He was also instructed to issue money orders only to Linda Phillips (not to ***** or to ***** and *****) so ***** would not have to sign the money orders.

6/05/00 Mr. Richardson contacted, directly, *****'s therapist. In her statement to the DPPPS the therapist identified "he asked questions and informed me in great detail, about his situation pertaining to the charges against him. I simply listened and was shocked when I understood who he was. Mr. Richardson complained about having to pay for the client's counseling, asked how long treatment would last, but his primary concern was that he wanted to get his law license reinstated. He stated that he was an attorney and would be representing himself in this case." Further in her report to the DPPPS the therapist identified "***** was shocked and became tearful and afraid, fearing Mr. Richardson "would come after her and hurt her.' ***** regressed in her therapy at this point…. She remained tearful and had difficulty sleeping"

Through investigation of the incident it was determined that Mr. Richardson stole the information regarding *****'s therapist from the Probation Officer. He simply took a receipt with the therapist's name, address, phone number and diagnostic codes from the desk of the officer when she was not aware of his actions.

6/2000 A Probation Violation hearing was held in Richland County DPPPS. The hearing officer found that Mr. Richardson had violated his probation in several situations and ordered actions to be taken that included: Mr. Richardson was placed on house arrest for 180 days and could not leave his own home for reasons other than work and travel to and from his employment. Mr. Richardson was barred from entering Florence County for any reason for the duration of his probation. Mr. Richardson was ordered not to have any contact with the victim, her family, employer, or therapist for any reason. Mr. Richardson was ordered to make all restitution payments by the 5th of the month following all charges.

09/27/01 Mr. Richardson's probation ended.

10/27/01 Mr. Richardson applied to have his license to practice Law reinstated.

12/27/01 Written statements in opposition to or in support of Mr. Richardson's request are to be in the office of the Committee On Character and Fitness of the SC Bar Association.

Committee on Character and Fitness
P.O. Box 11330
Columbia, SC 29211

1/11/02 Hearing on the fitness of Mr. Richardson to practice Law in SC.

Court Room of the Supreme Court Building
1231 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC

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