Paralegal Gets Jail Time For Falsified Legal Documents
In Maui, a paralegal has recently been convicted of falsifying legal documents in a 2005 divorce case. She was sentenced to 720 hours of jail time and a year of probation.
Kitty Atchley, 54, was acquitted of a felony charge of unauthorized practice of law. She was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of “unsworn falsification to authorities” for falsifying documents in connection with a divorce case.
In 2005, Kathleen Marten-Naidenko instructed Atchley to file the necessary forms for an uncontested divorce. Later when Marten-Naidenko instructed her to stop the divorce proceedings, Atchley continued to file documents with the court without approval.
Atchley claims that she believed Marten-Naidenko was a victim in an abusive relationship. She thought that the woman was in danger and that was her basis for continuing with the divorce filing.
Atchley was reportedly convicted of a similar crime in 2002. In that case a 90 day jail term was avoided when she fulfilled the terms of her 1 year probation.
This jail sentence will be served during 10 consecutive weekends behind bars. Atchley will pay court fees and a $1,000.00 fine and has been instructed to only work under the supervision of a licensed divorce lawyerwith active status in the future if she wishes to continue working as a paralegal.
