Attorney Charged With Obstructing in Toledo Jail Contraband Case

Contraband investigations usually end with inmates or visitors in handcuffs. In Toledo, one has led to felony charges against a defense attorney.

Phillip Carlisle was charged by Lucas County prosecutors in a bill of information with two felony counts of obstructing official business, court records show. Prosecutors filed the written accusation — which begins a case without a grand jury — after the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office investigated contraband allegedly brought into the county jail.

The 13 Action News I-TEAM reviewed 28 pages of reports from the investigation, including video footage and recorded jail phone calls. Carlisle appears several times in the reports, and investigators say he was seen on video as they pursued the allegations.

The prosecution is a rare one against a practicing defense lawyer in northwest Ohio and could lead to suspension of Carlisle’s law license. No court date has been set, no defense attorney is listed for him in court records, and the Lucas County Bar Association has not commented.

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