Lawyer disciplined for price-code scheme

A lawyer on the staff of a Franklin County judge faces discipline from the Ohio Supreme Court over a price-code switching scheme at a Walmart.

The Board of Professional Conduct this week recommended a stayed six-month suspension of the law license of Terrence K. Scott for committing an illegal act and fraud.

Scott is a staff lawyer to Kim A. Browne, a domestic relations and juvenile courts judge in Franklin County.

According to the board’s complaint, Scott printed out UPC symbols for cheap items at his home prior to going to a Walmart in Whitehall on Dec. 23, 2017.

Scott affixed the bar codes over the UPC symbols of more expensive items, including electronics, and then went through the selfcheckout lane, paying $27 for items valued at $367.

A suspicious Walmart employee intercepted Scott and retrieved the items while notifying a special duty police officer working at the store.

The officer confronted Scott outside the store and used his Taser on the lawyer after Scott “turned away from the officer,” the complaint states. More than 100 printed UPC codes were found on Scott.

He was charged with theft by deception, possession of criminal tools and obstructing official business in Whitehall mayor’s court.

Scott later pleaded guilty to criminal mischief, receiving a 10-day suspended jail sentence and a $185 fine.

The board found that Judge Browne’s testimony on Scott’s behalf was “persuasive,” agreeing with her comments that her staff lawyer was “contrite” and “forthright.”