Former lawyer, fugitive faces theft charges

AUGUSTA – The Maine Attorney General’s Office is negotiating with a New York attorney who is representing a disbarred lawyer formerly of Blue Hill in an effort to convince her to return voluntarily to face theft charges.

Lenore Anderson, also known as Lenore Grant, was indicted in February by a Hancock County grand jury on charges of theft and misuse of entrusted funds. According to court documents, Anderson allegedly misappropriated nearly $60,000 from more than 40 clients between January 1999 and May 2001.

Anderson was arrested last month as a fugitive from justice by police in Rochester, N.Y. where she currently resides, according to Assistant Attorney General Mike Colleran. The courts there determined that she was not a flight risk or a danger to the community, and she was released on $5,000 bail, Colleran said.

The Attorney General’s Office will seek her extradition, if necessary, but has not yet forwarded the paperwork to the governor’s office to formally begin that process, Colleran said. The extradition process requires that Gov. John Baldacci formally request that New York authorities turn over Anderson to Maine officers.

“We haven’t sent the paperwork yet,” Colleran said. “We’re attempting to get her to come back voluntarily.”

Anderson has not waived extradition at this point, Colleran said. He is working with Herbert Lewis, her attorney in Rochester, for her to return to Maine for an initial court appearance. That hearing tentatively has been set for April 14 in Hancock County Superior Court in Ellsworth, where Anderson is expected to enter a plea. Anderson also is scheduled to appear in court in Rochester on Friday.

Lewis could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Anderson was indicted last month on two counts each of theft and misuse of entrusted property, according to court documents. She allegedly used funds that clients had turned over to her in connection with real estate transactions. Those funds, which amounted to more than $59,000, had been intended for title insurance and tax payments.

Colleran declined to discuss the details of the case before it reaches the court.

The claims against her were investigated by the Board of Overseers of the Bar, which was created in 1978 to enforce Maine bar rules.

Anderson, however, reportedly failed to respond to the complaints during grievance hearings, triggering a default process that transferred the complaints to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. That court is the only body that can impose suspension or disbarment, the most severe penalties for lawyer misconduct.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court in November banned the attorney from practicing law in Maine after it found that she had violated eight of the state bar rules, including conduct unworthy of an attorney.