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Lawyer Arrested for Witness Intimidation in Rape Case

By William Vogeler, Esq. on June 05, 2017 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Attorney Christos Vasiliades apparently thought street justice would work better than criminal justice.

Vasiliades was defending an alleged rapist, and he told the victim's husband that they should settle the case out of court. He offered to pay $3,000 if the victim didn't testify, and said they should take it out on his client later in the street.

"I think you should find him and kick his ass, personally." Vasiliades was recorded saying.

Continuance, Your Honor?

The recording is part of the court record in a case against Vasiliades, who was charged with obstruction of justice and witness intimidation in Baltimore. His alleged conduct was not only illegal, it was really bad timing.

Vasiliades was arrested in the courthouse as trial was about to start for his client, Mario Aguilar-Delosantos. The next day, Vasiliades was the one wearing a yellow jumpsuit.

Aguilar-Delosantos is charged with second-degree rape, sex offenses, and assault. After his lawyer was arrested, his trial was continued -- for good cause, of course.

Not so good for Vasiliades, however. According to the criminal indictment against him, he and an accomplice did more than offer money and street justice.

The Trump Card

Edgar Ivan Rodriguez, who joined Vasiliades as an interpreter in the "settlement conference," allegedly said the victim would be deported if she testified.

"You know how things are with Trump's laws now," he said in the recording. "Someone goes to court and, boom, they get taken away."

So yeah, boom, he and Vasiliades were taken away. No doubt Vasiliades will lose more than some freedom over the incident for violating Maryland's Rules of Professional Conduct.

Not to mention a charge for felony stupid: he checked for cellphones during the "confidential" settlement meeting, but he didn't check for wires.

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