Self-proclaimed community activist arrested a second time for barratry

Self-proclaimed community activist arrested a second time for barratry



By Brian Rogers

Updated 09:10 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2012

Houston and Texas 3

The Rev. Johnny Jeremiah, a self-proclaimed community activist whose real name is Johnny Binder, is being held without bail after being arrested a second time for illegal lawyering, prosecutors said Thursday.

Binder, who is not an attorney, was the target of a sting in which he agreed to find an attorney for a Harris County defendant for $1,000.

Attorneys and their "runners" are prohibited from directly soliciting clients. The offense, called barratry, is a third-degree felony.

"Barratry is soliciting," Binder told magistrate Judge Blanca Villagomez on Thursday. "I've never met this woman in my life, so this is an outright lie."

Binder is being held without bail because he was arrested for barratry in March. In that case, he is accused of "splitting fees" with an attorney, which is also prohibited by law. That case is pending.

Prosecutors said Thursday that Binder met with a woman outside the Harris County criminal courthouse Wednesday where he was supposed to collect $1,000. He did not take the money, prosecutors said, because he wanted cash.

However, Assistant Harris County District Attorney Connie Spence said the agreement is enough to complete the alleged crime.

"He had the intent to take the money in exchange for finding the female a lawyer," Spence said in court.

Binder is expected to be arraigned in court Friday. If convicted he faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.


http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Self-proclaimed-community-activist-arrested-a-3583648.php