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Lawyer's license tabled in sex coercion case
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Nov. 20, 2010 | 9:04 a.m.
The Nevada Supreme Court temporarily suspended a Las Vegas attorney from practicing law after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of sexually motivated coercion.
Richard L. Crane, a member of the Willick Law Group, which focuses on family law, was sentenced in October to five years of probation by District Judge David Barker. As part of the conditions of probation, Crane must file as a sex offender and not live within 1,000 feet of a school, park or other structure designed primarily for use by children, according to court records.
Crane's suspension was handed down by justices Michael Cherry, Mark Gibbons and Nancy Saitta.
Crane was arrested in August 2009 in a Henderson police sting that nabbed men seeking to meet underage boys and girls via Craigslist.com.
According to Crane's arrest report, he believed he was speaking to a 15-year-old girl, and asked when she would turn 16. Crane asked questions about the girl's sexual history and asked on several occasions to "hang out," the report stated.
Crane was actually communicating with a Henderson detective. After he was arrested at a meeting place, Crane denied any involvement in what police allege he did, the report stated.
The Willick Law Group's website on Friday still listed Crane as a practicing attorney. The state's high court temporarily suspended him from practicing law on Monday. Attempts to reach Crane through the office were unsuccessful.
According to Supreme Court Rules, temporary suspension of an attorney is mandatory when he or she has been convicted of a serious crime, including felonies. The matter was referred to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board for disciplinary proceedings. It was not immediately known when those proceedings would take place.
Crane, a graduate of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, was admitted to the Nevada bar in October 2005.
Before law school, Crane spent 30 years in the Navy and retired as a lieutenant commander, according to his biography on the Willick Law Group's website.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.
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Amazing! So this is what the police are doing these days...instigating fake crimes to try to instigate criminal behavior in otherwise innocent people. I dunno about you guys but that sounds like a classic case of ENTRAPMENT to me! But the real question is why are the police wasting tax payers money in a time of economic turmoil on creating crimes when they should be out there catching REAL sexual predators in the act? How many real children are being raped and molested everyday while the police are filling their already crowded jails with would be criminals? Think people...this sounds like a branch of the PD that needs to go. They obviously can't catch real criminals. Check out your public records and see how much these detectives are getting paid to sit there and impersonate children. You'll be surprised. America you disappoint me again...
Lucky You - if you know so much about the case - why don't you fill us in on what really happened. The only information we have is in this article - what other conclusion are we supposed to come to? He plead guilty.
I hope he's learned his lesson and stays away from children. I don't really see anything severely wrong with any of the comments posted. I am not a detective or anything, but it does seem that lucky.you does have some sort of personal relationship with Richard Crane. I think it takes a pretty sick person to try to engage in an intimate relationship with someone that young. At least now he is on the perv-dar.
lucky you, i say lucky for Crane the perv that he has money, or he would be in Jail what a PS
Lucky you...you never answer my original question
You guys crack me up! I am not he! I am a SHE! We are all entitled to our opinions but the difference between "YOU" and "I" would be that I know this case and the actual details surrounding it. Like I said, we are all entitled to our opinions! Your comments hurt more then just Mr. Crane so be respectful! You plaster these news stories with hurtful comments, Whether it be about a child killed by a falling stove or an intruder being shot. When you bad mouth these people, do you think it effects them at all?? No! It effects everyone else! I am ashamed to be an American when I see the way other fellow Americans can be so cold, childish and tormenting!
Finally, as of the afternoon of November 20, 2010, 47 days after Crane’s criminal conviction and 5 days after the Supreme Court suspended Crane’s license pending what the public can only hope and pray will be a permanent disbarment, the Willick law firm has erased all references to Crane from their website! What took them so long and why was the Willick firm permitting this criminal to represent women and children in the Family Court AFTER Crane’s arrest, indictment and conviction? The Willick firm should be sanctioned and put out of business, as well.
"Lucky.you" is either the predatory pedophile himself, Richard Lee Crane, or is someone who is doing his bidding! Imagine that "attorney" Crane was an "officer" of the Family Court!!?? Talk about the proverbial "fox in the henhouse." Under any scenario, his behavior is reprehensible, let alone from a former Navy lieutenant commander and licensed attorney, who should be held to the highest standard of conduct and trust.
@ lucky.you: I've figured it out.. You must be Richard L. Crane. Hey,, how does it feel to have everybody know that you are scum?!!?
He, who lives in glass houses, shall not cast stones.