Toledo Defense Attorney Charged in Lucas County Jail Contraband Probe

A Toledo defense attorney is facing felony charges of his own after a contraband investigation inside the Lucas County Jail, court records show.

Lucas County prosecutors filed a bill of information charging Phillip Carlisle with two felony counts of obstructing official business. The charges stem from an inquiry into contraband allegedly brought into the county jail — a rare felony prosecution of a practicing defense lawyer in northwest Ohio, and one that could lead to the suspension of his law license.

The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office ran the investigation before handing it to prosecutors. Reporting by 13 Action News’ I-TEAM, which obtained 28 pages of reports, describes video footage, attempts to speak with inmates and recorded jail phone calls, with Carlisle appearing several times in the records; investigators say he was seen on video as they looked into the allegations.

A bill of information lets prosecutors bring charges without a grand jury. No court date has been set, court records do not list an attorney for Carlisle, and the Lucas County Bar Association has not commented. Attempts to reach Carlisle had not been returned as of the filing.

Source: Phillip Carlisle charged in Toledo jail contraband investigation — Glass City Ledger (glasscityledger.com)