Lawyer in Billing Case Requests Public Defender
A lawyer accused of overbilling the county by $1.3 million over the past three years for criminal defense work that was never performed asked Tuesday to be represented by a public defender.
Because of the request, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gary Klauser agreed to postpone arraignment for Raymond Newman, who is charged with two counts of grand theft and three counts of perjury. Klauser said he would decide by Tuesday whether the attorney qualifies for the services of a public defender. In the meantime, he is free on $50,000 bail.
Newman is accused of collecting nearly $500,000 each year over the last three years from the county for legal work he never performed.
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