Further progressing the notion that it’s probably not a great idea to pretend to be a lawyer when you have no formal training, a Medford resident was indicted earlier this month for practicing law without a license. The suspect represented a client in Evesham Township Municipal earlier this year despite being unlicensed to practice law in this state.
Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced earlier this month that a Medford man was indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury for practicing law in New Jersey without a license.
Demetrio S. Timban, 45, of Medford, was indicted on two counts of Unauthorized Practice of Law in the Fourth Degree. The indictment was returned on Oct. 4. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in Burlington County.
Evesham Township police took Timban into custody at his home on Sept. 14. He was released after posting 10 percent of the $5,000 bail that was set by the Hon. Jeanne T. Covert, J.S.C.
The investigation revealed that Timban is an attorney and is licensed to practice law in Michigan and New York, but not in New Jersey. His unlicensed status in New Jersey was discovered after Timban represented an individual in Evesham Township Municipal Court.
Timban was paid $500 by his client for his representation. Timban represented his client on two occasions earlier this year, once in March and once in May. Timban had given the client a business card that listed himself as an attorney for The Timban Law Group in Cherry Hill and indicated he was “Specializing in Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights; Immigration & Nationality Law; Family Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution and Real Estate Law.”
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit and the Evesham Township Police Department conducted the joint investigation.
According to the prosecutor’s office, an indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
