Department Of Redundancy Department

Many people consider the term 'criminal attorney' to be redundant. A case in Lewiston, Pennsylvania adds a whole new level to that redundancy! How about a criminal criminal attorney? A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for stealing the identity of a lawyer who is currently out of the country, and practicing law using that identity. In spite of the fact that the criminal has no apparent education in the law. Or talent at faking it, either.

Jeffrey P. Riddell, 40, of Hershey, has never held a law license in Pennsylvania, but claimed to be another attorney with the same first and last names, authorities said. At the time, the real attorney was living in Russia.

Riddell was jailed Tuesday and faces a charge of unauthorized practice of law. Prosecutor Stephen S. Snook said he also hopes to file identity theft charges.

Snook's suspicions started when he got a letter from Riddell on behalf of a defendant in a drug case in March. Written on the lawyer's stationary, the letter was threatening and "goofy," he said. "The letter was just not what you would expect an attorney to write," Snook said.

He ended up getting more letters from Riddell and almost daily phone calls. Then, when he saw Riddell at a hearing, Snook said he started getting very suspicious.

Snook and police believe Riddell assumed the identity of attorney Jeffrey A. Riddell after he had left the country and deactivated his law license with the state.

Perhaps Mr. Riddell will put his jail time to good use and actually study a bit of law. One has no doubt he will get some jail time. He's representing himself, whoever he is.