The Florida disciplinary panel that heard the case recommended a 6 month suspension, the Florida Supreme Court was astounded by the conduct, the defiant attitude of Mr. Behm who said at his hearing that he had no intention in the future to become compliant with the law, and permanently disbarred this clown. Notably Behm was already suspended for a prior disciplinary conviction for--oh, things like incompetence.
You would think that the Bad Lawyer would sympathize with Charles Behm in light of my disciplinary suspension and guilty plea to a tax felony. I was telling dear old friends last night that I entered a guilty plea to a tax felony, because I am guilty. When I became a lawyer I held my right hand up and swore that I would uphold the laws. I did not. I am ashamed and disgraced. I do not empathize with lawyers who can not or will not honestly accept their obligations to obey the laws. Our actions, even when effected by depression or illness, have consequences. When a lawyer says--I swore to obey the laws, but I'm not going to follow this or that law because I have a novel theory, they disqualify themselves from the privilege that their license conveys. Let me go further, they obtained their license fraudulently.
I feel terrible about my disciplinary suspension and tax felony. I am responsible. I did this to myself, I did this to my clients, my friends, and my family. I hope to live each day, including this day trying to find away to pay my indebtedness and redeem myself. I loved being a lawyer and I wanted to do the right things while admittedly ill-equipped as a business man and perhaps emotionally. I pray for the miracle to be restored, or acceptance of anything else my Creator has planned for me in my lifetime in or out of my chosen profession. I pray for the other lawyers in my position, that they can have a willing heart and mind--to be restored, to find a path, to find a way back, to find the ability and to be willing to pay the price.
Representing people as a lawyer was and is a great honor.
Posts
I know how you feel. I blew it. I had a thriving practice, respect of my peers and judges, a bright future and I threw it away, becuase in my case I couldn't stop using drugs. Drugs were more important than anything until I got clean and realized what I lost. But there is silver lining. Alot of my legal friends are gone, they disappeared, but at least now I know they weren't really my friends. As long as I had the veneer of being successful and the big house they thought I was great, but when I lost it all they wouldn't return my phone calls. Such is life. I really appreciate your blog, it has helped me a great deal. I will practice again and I will take these lessons with me. In the meantime I will do my best to support my family and hold my head up high. I know you will do the same. God Bless You.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:27 thank you for a great comment. Good luck to you and your family. In my case, a "quickness of spirit" is at the seed level of my recovery, in otherwords I have to be on constant guard against taking anything for granted, to fall into the old procrastination, and spiritual laziness. What am I willing to do...everything! I hope God Blesses You, in fact I know he does, it's a matter of how we choose to view our blessings.
ReplyDeleteBL
you know you have all my sympathy
ReplyDeleteand all my best wishes
however i strongly object to your labeling of the fl lawyer as a tax cheat
HE OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THE LAW AND THE CODE
and knows there is no end to the INJUSTICE practiced by theI.R.S. without resistence to that INJUSTICE
i applaud him support him and respect him
the pope
I,m no lawya ,I be,s just a spokesperson but me thinkist that if "we all" decided not to pay our taxes and got away with it.... WE,d be less than a third world nation in a week or two. Nice try but Gheeze laweeze dump a law degree because of this ??? someone for got to tell Mr. Behm youCAN fight the I.R.S. but you can,t WIN . now whats left? I say write a book on the ordeal , pay off the debts move to Mexico and live happy ever after.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 5:35 I think you are right, at least in the first half of your comment. I don't empathize with anyone who thinks they can pick or choose among the laws. While there are many inequities in the tax code, espicially as it pertains to the non-taxation of great wealth and corportations like those foreign-flagged and registered opearatos like those poisoning the Gulf of Mexico, when it comes down to individuals and particularly lawyers swaorn to uphold the laws--there is no excuse. The lawyer in the story took his oath under false pretenses. He had no intention of upholding the laws and he should not have been a lawyer in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBL
I know Charles Behm. Let's review, his Bar #171972, search under The Florida Supreme Court Docket and by name. You will find information on his failures due to his lack of knowledge and the FACT that this person thinks he is above the law. I happen to also know for a fact that no one in his family including his own daughter will speak to him or have anything to do with him? Poor Charles it really sucks being you! Let's not forget Mr. Behm's (honorable) discharge from the Navy. Yes that means for a number of years he was completely satisfied taking your tax dollars to live on. He thrives on other peoples sorrows. He pretends to be a man of his word, but those of us close to him know that he is full of lies and will turn everything around to blame others for his HUGH mistakes. Mr. Behm also is being sued by a number of people which is public record also. Check Putnam County, Duval County, and St. Johns County public records, and our friends at The I.R.S. have filed a LIEN against Charles close to 450,000.00. One of Mr. Behms favorite sayings to me was, " what's not told can't be re-told". With that stated, perhaps he shouldn't have told a judge in North Carolina (under oath) that he didn't pay any taxes since 1999. To bad he didn't also tell them that he has never filed business taxes. That judge filed a complaint with The Florida Bar.
ReplyDeleteAnything that has happened or will happen to Mr. Behm is of his own doing. I have waited years to see justice come around and bite him in the ass. Next, the IRS takes a swing at Mr. Behm. Federal prison for tax evaders would be nice and he could probably use the time to reflect on the hurt and pain he has caused his family and others who trusted and believed in him to represent them. I'm glad to say I don't have this person around me anymore and we should all be grateful to The Florida Bar and The Florida Supreme Court for teaching this self-absorbed, mean spirited, selfish man a lesson. Be thankful he isn't practicing law anymore, because it could have been your loved ones that he screwed over! I've waited for the day he would be disbarred and my prayers have been answered. Public records check it out for yourself. E.K.
anon @ 2:10
ReplyDeleteYou do an excellent job of refuting the notion that these tax "deniers" are motivated by ideals versus larceny. Thank you for the details. As someone else pointed out, if we all did waht Charles Behm did or what I did, we would quickly become a third world country.
I do wish there weas a more functional method for those of us out there trying to do business, practice law, comply with ethical parameters--to sanely deal with self employment tax rules--without the crippling fear.
BL
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeletePerhaps one day we will come together and vote for a flat tax amendment. But sadly, until then we will be faced with the never ending ways of doing business with the government. Sir, remember those who acknowledge there mistakes and own those, fair better in life then those like Behm who deny wrong doing and cast the shadow of blame on others. It makes for a lonely and sad life. Ek
THANK GOD! Amen to everything E.K. (Above) said.
ReplyDeleteThis Scum Bag could rob an innocent client then defend Himself successfully against a BAR complaint by attacking His Victims integrity.
Whose integrity is in question now Charles?
I will continue to follow this news, I hope to see Him doing big time in The Big House.
J.S.
I want to thank you JS for your follow up. This guy was an unprincipled menace.
ReplyDeleteBL
I'm glad all you retards who don't know crap about the law are disbarred. Charles Behm is apparently the only lawyer who understood the law.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the law in US code Title 26, or anywhere else, requiring me to file a report of my wages or pay a tax on my labor. I'm a US citizen, living in the US and making my living 100% from sources within the US.
Good luck finding that one morons.
Still waiting on that statute 'tards. Oh, here's some help from the Florida 4th Judicial Circuit Court...
ReplyDelete"After a February 24 trial on a Florida Bar Association complaint alleging that Charles "Chuck" Behm, a Florida attorney, had violated bar rules by committing a criminal act in refusing to file federal income tax returns since 1999, Judge Tyrie W. Boyer, a county judge in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Jacksonville, ruled that Behm had committed no criminal act."
http://yannone.blogspot.com/2009/03/nonfiling-is-no-crime-confirms-judge.html
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeletePlease we need help. Disbarred Florida Attorney Charles R. H. Behm, continues to harass, stalk, and threathen peoples lives to achieve his goals of total taking people down that go up againest him. Charles Behm has been known to lie under oath in current court cases, and now is attacking a senior citizen in Volusia County Florida, under the represention of being a property manager in order to steal this womans land and cause her health, monetary problems, and peace of life. We need someone to hear us. We have done everything possible, within the law of Florida, unlike Charles Behm who belittles people and truly believes he is above the law! We need media coverage and help! Thank you
Yes I've heard more about this sociopath. A little old lady (before she died) almost lost her house to Charles R.H Behm and his girlfriend by redirecting the mails to his address. And other harrassments he had done to people you can obtain public records at Putnam County, Florida. He sure does know how to spend your tax money.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous August 2, 2012 must not be up to date. THERE WAS NO ACQUITTAL. Putnam county Book 1224, Page 345 and Book 1234, Page 1530. Liens against Charles Behm from IRS and supreme court. How about the families that he screwed over thier inheritance. READ THE SUPREME COURT TRIAL. I KNOW CHARLES PERSONALLY. HE IS THE DEVIL HIMSELF pretending to be Godly and self rightious.
ReplyDeleteI knew Mr.Behm for a few years, and even worked with him. I have no reason to lie about what I say, we haven't spoken in years. Charles and his girlfriend are true salt of the earth. They value hard work, are always looking for ways to build up and help locals and are worst, eccentric. While working for them, I saw first hand the amount of charity work and off the clock help they offered to victims, single mothers, the elderly and me. They value the constitution and had piles almost reaching the celing of argument against what he and MANY others truly believe is unlawful taxation. Mr. Behm has faced unimaginable tragedy in life, which probably only helped him become more unapologetically himself. I'm sure this kind of pain changes a person, but he still lived with grace and purpose. "A man has got to do what he thinks is right " That's what he did. That kind of moxy I'm sure scares the government and intrigues the crowds. The IRS couldn't have that and they made an example of him.
ReplyDelete