Paul J Panichas

Paul Panichas esq. represented me in 2002 for assault charges that stemmed from an incident that happened at a friends house party, I was 18. He was a friend of my foster parents and was aware at the time of my current criminal charges. So He built Confidence in me and told me he could handle a crimi...nal trial, took the little money I had, and gambled with my life & my freedom. -The Incident- I was jumped by 2 guys at a party, I was Outnumbered. They were brothers who went to the same high school, older & and who’s group of friends had a “neighborhood problem” with the group of kids I hung with as a kid. They had it out for me from the start of we walking into the party where this incident occurred. Long story short words where exchanged and a fight started. Buddy of mine got hanged up on and I stepped in in which They beat me to the floor, kicking & stomping me as I covered up In panic. I just remember blocking my face in complete fear for my life & wellbeing. A minute seemed like 10. at one point uncovering my face One of their kids broken through my face block & I pulled a pocket knife from my jeans pocket, pierced one man’s leg getting myself to my feet. The other came towards me continuing to assault me, reaching for my pocket knife in which he was stabbed in the torso. I was young, scared, & full of adrenaline panic & FEAR! Throughout this chaos another innocent man, friends with the victims in my case received a laceration to the arm as well. I didn’t remember even cutting him. I left the scene scared for my life and naive to the reality of what just happened and I was on the run til I turned myself in a week later and was given bail til trial start. -Trial starts- 1) one witness on my behalf & she was never subpoenaed to court by this lawyer. 2) He Never put me on the stand to counter the alleged victims (they were no victims) testimony. 3) he never objected to the victim lying while on the stand under oath. Both victims in the case committed perjury under oath. Due to This attorneys lack of knowledge and incompetence, 4) after being found guilty looking at 20 years I was sentenced 9 months after I lost trial. This lawyer never even came to see to prepare me for sentencing. I wrote the judge, Judge Nugent in the state of RI and told him about not seeing my lawyer for 10 months as well as put in a motion to be seen before the judge prior to my sentencing. It was on this day in 2003 when He told this lawyer, Paul Panichas that: “frankly he shouldn’t practice LAW IN THE STATE OF RI” The state gave me a new attorney and I had 2 options. Take my original plea bargain and plead NOLO or be sentenced to 20 years. So I signed NOLO 18 years ago and was a convicted violent felon for defending myself against 2 drunk jerks who liked picking fights and jumping guys in the neighborhood. In my eyes I did the right thing and was failed by this incompetent attorney. And my life as a felon has never been the same.