Steven Dale Barnette

I was arrested in mid- March 2018 of stalking. This attorney was court appointed due to the plaintiff getting me fired by arranging to have me arrested at my place of work. My attorney came to jail to speak with me for approximately for 20 minutes prior to my bond hearing. He told me the judge woul...d deny me bond, which is what happened. My trial was to take place July 23, 2018. I needed to work to maintain my mortgage and other bills and tried to obtain a work release. I sent a letter to the York county circuit clerk to obtain permission from the judge to work. After not receiving a reply from the court, I had a friend contact the court and she was told the work release request had to go through my lawyer and that the clerk had forwarded my letter to the lawyer. Again, not having received a reply, I had my friend call (leaving a message with an assistant) and send a fax to the attorney – still no reply. I attempted to call my attorney from jail but the phone would cut off if the number called went to voice mail, which was the case. Finally, I sent a letter to the attorney to the address that was on a business card that the jail provided. The letter came back as “address unknown”. The address was the same as listed on the attorney’s website. This process took over a month. In early May, my cell door opened at 5 am. I was told by the block officer that I had court that day. I had not been previously contacted that I would be taken to court on that day. I was taken to the courthouse and placed in a holding cell. After several hours I was led to a small room where this attorney was present. He said something to the effect of let’s get you out of here. There was a plea deal and knowing I needed to return to my job, I accepted it – with the court providing paper work that stated I accepted the plea deal after having had an opportunity to go to trial. I would rather have gotten the work release and stayed in jail until the initial July 23 trial date. I wanted to present evidence at the trial that proved that my accuser had lied. Had I not accepted the plea deal that day, this attorney would not have been prepared to effectively represent me. The 20 minute meeting prior to my bond hearing was our only contact and he never asked for evidence. Steven Barnette did not inform me of my new court date and I believe he did this knowing full well that I needed to work to pay my mortgage. I further believe he allowed me to be “surprised” so that I would be willing to accept a plea deal and he would not have to put forth much effort in this case. Mr. Barnett showed a lack of professionalism and a lack of integrity.