Florida man accused of posing as attorney during traffic stop
Florida man accused of posing as attorney during traffic stop
A Brevard County man was arrested after authorities said he falsely claimed to be an attorney and attempted to represent a client during a traffic stop.
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. - A Brevard County man was arrested after authorities said he falsely claimed to be an attorney and attempted to represent a client during a traffic stop.
According to West Melbourne police, the incident began when officers pulled over a woman and were interviewing her on the roadside.
What we know:
During the traffic stop, Derek Zachary Schaufus arrived and identified himself as the woman's lawyer, authorities said.
Investigators said Schaufus was dressed in a suit, spoke as though he were an attorney and attempted to negotiate with officers on the woman's behalf.
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Police quickly became suspicious and determined Schaufus was not licensed to practice law in Florida, according to an arrest report.
Authorities arrested Schaufus on charges of practicing law without a license and obstruction by a disguised person.
What they're saying:
Legal experts said falsely representing oneself as an attorney is a serious offense because it can interfere with legal proceedings and mislead the public.
"It’s a very serious matter when someone has the audacity to impersonate a lawyer," retired Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry said, describing the case as both unusual and troubling.
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The arrest report also stated that investigators contacted Schaufus's father, who allegedly laughed when asked whether his son was a licensed attorney and described him as a "street lawyer."
What we don't know:
Authorities have not said whether Schaufus represented other people while allegedly posing as an attorney.
Court records were not immediately available showing whether he had retained legal counsel.
The Source: This story was written based on court filings in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.