LOS ANGELES – A now-suspended attorney who tried to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine to his client in the downtown Criminal Justice Center, then a month later was arrested at the Antelope Valley courthouse for possessing rock cocaine, was sentenced to jail Friday.
Kenneth Roger Markman, 49, was sentenced to a year in county jail and to a one-year residential treatment program as part of three years of supervised probation, according to Deputy District Attorney Rosa Alarcon. A report on Markman’s progress was scheduled for Oct. 15.
Markman was first arrested by Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 21, 2011, after trying to smuggle 26 balloons containing heroin and methamphetamine into a jail holding facility at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said he was trying to deliver the drugs to his client, 36-year-old Jorge Zaragoza, who had a court appearance that day in an attempted carjacking case.
According to the criminal complaint, Zaragoza and his girlfriend, Jennifer Vasquez, 28, both believed to be with the 38th Street gang, conspired to acquire the drugs and supply them to Markman.
Markman was arrested at the Antelope Valley courthouse a month later, after a security officer saw suspicious items in the X-Ray machine when Markman went through. Authorities said Markman grabbed his wallet and tried to leave the building, but was stopped by a Sheriff’s deputy. Drug paraphernalia and two bindles of rock cocaine were in Markman’s wallet, authorities said.
Markman, Zaragoza and Vasquez were charged in January 2012. Markman pleaded no contest last month to conspiracy and drug charges.
Vasquez pleaded no contest to conspiracy to bring a controlled substance into a jail facility and was sentenced in January to two years in prison. She was given credit for 782 days already spent in custody.
Zaragoza is due in court on March 19 for a pretrial hearing and trial setting.
The State Bar of California has suspended Markman pending a decision on whether he will be allowed to continue to practice law.
(Information via press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.)
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Michelle Egberts says
Drugs are associated with 70% of crime. Comprehensive drug treatment works. It not only reduces drug use but also curtails criminal behavior and recidivism. Treatment is better than incarceration and least costly to taxpayers. Moreover, for drug-abusing offenders, treatment facilitates successful reentry into the community.
It is my hope that the California State Bar gives Mr. Markman a SECOND CHANCE once he successfully completes his incarceration/residential drug treatment program as he would set a fine example to those clients he defends in crimal court that drugs aren’t worth it, they destroy lives.
Marc says
was it drugs that made you act a fool?
Michelle Egberts says
@Marc… There are more fools than wise men, and even in the wise man himself there is more folly than wisdom.–Chamfort
otis says
“I am sure that if the devil existed, he would want us to feel very sorry for him.” – Martha Stout
me says
You can’t trust people now adays.
so much corruption.
Lawyers in Love says
Not all attorneys are corrupt. Not every attorney is an ambulance chaser. It’s hard to believe that from living in the AV, but there really are honest, hardworking and intelligent attorneys out there.
Palmdale_Diego says
I was denied admission to law school; they found out that my parents were married.
sikntired says
Sorry,that was supposed to be a like
Gladys says
What????
Corrupt attorney at the AV Courthouse? NO WAY