Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Fugitive attorney caught in Mexico, says prosecutor

“Mister Pines was arrested in Mexico, then extradited to the U.S. on our request,” said prosecutor James Romo.

The much-arrested and disbarred attorney Michael Theodore Pines failed to appear for two court hearings in a row, and two weeks ago a San Diego Superior Court judge ordered him arrested on a no-bail warrant.

The fugitive did not appear at hearings set on September 26 and again October 9.

Pines paid in advance for a month’s worth of rent, for the period October 15 through November 14, for a home in Mexico, according to prosecutor Romo. The fugitive was also house-hunting in Mexico for a home suitable for a long-term stay, according to Romo.

Jail records show that Michael Theodore Pines was captured by U.S. Marshals and booked into the downtown San Diego jail about 8 p.m. on October 19, 2012.

While in jail these past few days, Pines made phone calls in which he stated, “He was going to go to Mexico where no one could bother him,” the prosecutor told a judge, late yesterday.

Prosecutor Romo made these statements after Pines requested to be released again, in court yesterday, October 24, 2012.

Superior Court Judge K. Michael Kirkman ordered the defendant held without bail and set a sentencing date of November 16, in San Diego’s North County courthouse.

Michael Theodore Pines, 60, could be sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for offenses he has already admitted, according to court documents.

Pines was “involuntarily ordered inactive” and disbarred by the California State Bar more than a year ago. He has been in San Diego County courtrooms and jails many times over the past two years, with his own problems.

Most recently Pines admitted making a written extortion threat, a felony. He also admitted practicing law while suspended from the State bar – an offense he had already pleaded guilty to, earlier.

Prosecutor James Romo said that Pines continues to advertise his services as an attorney, even while a fugitive.

After his most recent guilty plea, August 28, 2012, Pines was released on condition that he wear electronic monitoring and “receive appropriate medical attention at appropriate facility.” His mental competency continues to be questioned by judges who see him.

In past, Pines publicly positioned himself as a champion of persons in danger of losing their homes, and he spoke of conspiracies involving banks and people in power.

There appears to be another, different attorney named Michael Pines who practices personal injury law out of his La Jolla offices, in San Diego County.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/oct/25/34332/

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

Now what can they do with Encinitas unstable cliffs?

Make the cliffs fall, put up more warnings, fine beachgoers?
Next Article

Escondido planners nix office building switch to apartments

Not enough open space, not enough closets for Hickory Street plans

“Mister Pines was arrested in Mexico, then extradited to the U.S. on our request,” said prosecutor James Romo.

The much-arrested and disbarred attorney Michael Theodore Pines failed to appear for two court hearings in a row, and two weeks ago a San Diego Superior Court judge ordered him arrested on a no-bail warrant.

The fugitive did not appear at hearings set on September 26 and again October 9.

Pines paid in advance for a month’s worth of rent, for the period October 15 through November 14, for a home in Mexico, according to prosecutor Romo. The fugitive was also house-hunting in Mexico for a home suitable for a long-term stay, according to Romo.

Jail records show that Michael Theodore Pines was captured by U.S. Marshals and booked into the downtown San Diego jail about 8 p.m. on October 19, 2012.

While in jail these past few days, Pines made phone calls in which he stated, “He was going to go to Mexico where no one could bother him,” the prosecutor told a judge, late yesterday.

Prosecutor Romo made these statements after Pines requested to be released again, in court yesterday, October 24, 2012.

Superior Court Judge K. Michael Kirkman ordered the defendant held without bail and set a sentencing date of November 16, in San Diego’s North County courthouse.

Michael Theodore Pines, 60, could be sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for offenses he has already admitted, according to court documents.

Pines was “involuntarily ordered inactive” and disbarred by the California State Bar more than a year ago. He has been in San Diego County courtrooms and jails many times over the past two years, with his own problems.

Most recently Pines admitted making a written extortion threat, a felony. He also admitted practicing law while suspended from the State bar – an offense he had already pleaded guilty to, earlier.

Prosecutor James Romo said that Pines continues to advertise his services as an attorney, even while a fugitive.

After his most recent guilty plea, August 28, 2012, Pines was released on condition that he wear electronic monitoring and “receive appropriate medical attention at appropriate facility.” His mental competency continues to be questioned by judges who see him.

In past, Pines publicly positioned himself as a champion of persons in danger of losing their homes, and he spoke of conspiracies involving banks and people in power.

There appears to be another, different attorney named Michael Pines who practices personal injury law out of his La Jolla offices, in San Diego County.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/oct/25/34332/

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Former Attorney Back in Jail

Next Article

Tim Lambesis “is a good, decent and Christian human being”

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader