http://www.casperstartribune.net/ar.../wyoming/2515f4bc9150d8234440e814e12bebd9.txt Attorney accused of seeking sex barter deal WORLAND (AP) -- Former Washakie County Attorney Larry Berryman was accused Monday of offering to exchange sex with a 19-year-old client to clear a bill for services. The charging document alleges he asked the woman to pay off her bill by having sex with him, "an act of prostitution." Park County Attorney Bryan Skoric, special prosecutor in the case, filed the misdemeanor charge of sexual solicitation. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Worland Police Officer J.D. Fowler, Berryman was representing the woman, whose identity has not been released, in a custody case. The document alleges that on Sept. 24 when she was meeting with Berryman regarding custody of her daughter, she questioned payment options. Berryman is alleged to have said, "Well, you have two options. You can pay me with sex, or with money. I prefer option one." The affidavit presents the transcript of an alleged conversation between Berryman and the woman on Oct. 6. According to the document, the woman wore an audio device that was monitored by police across the street from Berryman's office. During the conversation, Berryman is alleged to have told her that she could go to bed with him twice and that certain sexual acts would take care of the bill for his professional services. While the two discussed options, he allegedly told her, "This is just between us. I would never say anything to your husband. ... I would never say anything to anybody." He allegedly went on to say, "If it can't be just between us, I mean, we couldn't do it. You, you know we both have a lot to lose." He also reportedly said, "I am not going to push you to do anything you don't want to do." When contacted Monday, Berryman declined comment. The misdemeanor is punishable by jail time of up to six months and a fine of up to $750 or both. Berryman's term as county prosecutor ended in 1990. He will make an initial appearance in Circuit Court on Nov. 7. Wyoming State Bar counsel Becky Lewis said if it is determined an attorney is in violation of the bar's rules of conduct, the organization could issue a private reprimand, public censure or suspension up to five years or recommend disbarment. .
I was a bill collector a hundred years ago, and one of my coworkers got fired for offering certain sexual acts in exchange for payment on a delinquent account. She was in charge of spanish-language collections, so noone in the office understood what she was saying. I think one of her cases actually showed up at the corporate offices looking to collect! Crazy...
