EMBATTLED LAWYER ARRESTED AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR PERJURY

Troubles for a Cape Girardeau attorney are continuing after he was arrested Tuesday for lying in court, investigators said.

William Z. Shohet, 31, of 813 Illinois St., had perjured himself during a Missouri Bar disciplinary hearing Aug. 14 when he said that he had no sexual relations with a woman who was his client, said Kevin Zoellner, special prosecutor for the Missouri Attorney General's office.

The disciplinary hearing was held to deal with misdemeanor charges against Shohet for possession of marijuana and driving while intoxicated in 1999, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by James Weber, an investigator for the Attorney General's office.

Details about Shohet's false testimony were learned during the course of an investigation of assault committed against the same woman with whom Shohet denied having sex, Weber said.

In July, Shohet had been arrested by police for three counts of misdemeanor assault and two counts of victim tampering.

Shohet allegedly kicked, pushed and choked a woman who was staying at his apartment in July and August, and then tried to convince her not to file complaints with the police, probable cause affidavits say.

Prior to that, Shohet had pleaded guilty to two assault charges, Weber said.

In Shohet's home state of Wisconsin, he has been arrested for burglary and convicted of stealing and property damage.

Investigations also showed that Shohet had possibly taken fees from clients without performing any legal work, Weber stated.

If released from custody, Shohet would likely flee with the money, Weber said.

He is being held in the Cape Girardeau City Jail on $20,000 bond.