FUGITIVE ATTORNEY'S CLIENTS LEFT IN THE LURCH

A Cape Girardeau attorney continues to run from the law, but his clients' cases have come to a halt.

Attorney William Z. Shohet is still being sought by police after he failed to appear for a probation hearing Dec. 15 stemming from charges of assault, victim tampering, marijuana possession and tampering with a witness. But roughly 250 of his clients' files were left behind in legal limbo.

Circuit Judge William Syler had planned to appoint a lawyer as trustee over Shohet's case files until attorney Stephen Wilson of Cape Girardeau volunteered.

"There is no money for what he is doing," Syler said. "Steve was gracious enough to volunteer."

Wilson is now responsible for going through the files, contacting Shohet's clients and giving them the files.

In looking through the files twice since Friday, Wilson said he has found traffic tickets that have been dropped off for court dates next week.

Judges in municipal or state courts should show some leniency to Shohet's clients, Syler said.

"If they don't show up for court, I would hope that no warrants would be issued," he said.

By appointing Wilson as trustee over Shohet's files, Syler said he is exercising a little used portion of law generally intended to assist when an attorney dies or suffers an incapacitating illness. The judge could not recall any instances when the law was used to compensate for a fugitive attorney.

Until a more permanent location is established, the files will be kept at the Common Pleas Courthouse, Syler said.

Wilson has begun contacting Shohet's clients. He said he would probably decline to take up any of the cases.

Although Wilson would be entitled to any money clients had left on Shohet's account, none is left.

Shohet's own criminal case is continuing in court despite his absence. A bond forfeiture hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26 with Associate Judge Byron Luber of Pemiscot County presiding.

A complaint had also been filed by the Missouri Attorney General's office charging that Shohet committee perjury when he said during a Missouri Bar disciplinary hearing that he never had sexual relations with one of his clients.