VENTURA : Lawyer Asks Court to Appoint Defense

Douglas Andrew Palaschak, a Ventura lawyer awaiting trial on drug charges, asked for a court-appointed attorney last week, saying he cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

In response, Ventura County Superior Court Judge James M. McNally directed the county auditor to investigate Palaschak’s finances and report to the court on Dec. 30.

Palaschak, 42, is accused of possessing LSD and furnishing it to a minor at his office in May. He has been released on his promise to appear at trial, which had been scheduled for Tuesday.

However, the trial was postponed for several weeks after the court learned of Palaschak’s problem retaining an attorney. He had been represented by Oxnard attorney Steve Pell, but Pell said last week that he had a conflict of interest and asked to be let off the case. After a closed hearing, McNally agreed.

Palaschak’s practice specializes in personal-injury cases, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and drug and sex cases, according to a Yellow Pages advertisement.

Palaschak has acknowledged that the State Bar of California has asked for his version of the events leading to his arrest. In addition, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury has asked bar officials to investigate Palaschak’s admitted use of an employment contract in which prospective employees were asked to give him permission to make sexual advances.

The attorney defended the contract as a way to protect himself from “sexual blackmail.”