Local News

Lake Placid attorney back in jail

Pallavi Agarwal | Highlands Today
Published: February 5, 2013

LAKE PLACID - A Lake Placid lawyer and CPA who was charged last year for diverting more than $100,000 in funds from a client's account and was on bail is back in jail on fresh charges.

John Sanders Haile, 56, of 220 Dal Hall Blvd., Lake Placid, was booked into Highlands County Jail on Saturday on charges of writing worthless checks, and remains in jail on no bond, according to authorities.

Haile is accused of writing at least $598 in three worthless checks to two local businesses for performing services to his "foreclosing property" in Lake Placid, according to a warrant affidavit by the Lake Placid Police Department.

Those checks issued are from a Morgan Stanley account, which Haile allegedly knew was closed since 2010, said Lake Placid Police Lt. James Fansler.

There is also pending investigation on more possibly worthless checks Haile could have written, Fansler said.

The affidavit mentions authorities have learned "that the defendant has begun issuing worthless checks on a TD bank account as well."

Last year, Haile was charged with grand theft, fraud and money laundering in connection with a case involving a late client, according to authorities.

Haile was the personal representative and trustee for Nancy Lee Haberkamp, who died March 26, 2008, an affidavit signed by state attorney investigator Steven R. Menge stated, according to a previous Highlands Today story.

Haberkamp hired Haile to handle her probate and to discharge 96 percent of her living Haberkamp Trust to beneficiary Constance Lee Collins.

Haberkamp's personal residence was sold, and Haile kept the $131,271 in proceeds, the affidavit said.

The state attorney's affidavit alleges Haile spent that money on himself instead of discharging it to Collins, of Hampshire, Ill.

Meanwhile, Haile's license to practice as an attorney has been suspended, according to the Florida Bar.