On Monday, November 25, 2024, the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel filed a formal complaint against attorney Richard John Steinle, alleging serious misconduct. Steinle is facing multiple charges stemming from a criminal investigation involving the mailing of disturbing letters to political figures.
The case is entitled “Disciplinary Counsel v. Richard John Steinle,” with case no. 2024-035.
The charges cited Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b), 8.4(h).
The accusations originated on July 6, 2022, when U.S. Postal Inspector Daniel J. Senchesak was alerted to three suspicious letters sent to members of the Ohio Senate. Upon opening the letters, Senchesak discovered what appeared to be human feces, accompanied by derogatory remarks including the words “pig” and “racist” on the enclosed paper.
Following this, further letters were received by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ohio Senate, which also contained similar contents. Investigations revealed that these letters were mailed from one of three addresses linked to Steinle. These addresses include locations in Akron and Kent, Ohio, notably one corresponding to the Ohio 9th District Court of Appeals.
Investigators interviewed an employee with the initials LKF, who allegedly suggested that Steinle could be involved in mailing these letters. LKF also claimed that Steinle had been terminated from his role as a mediator for the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, indicating underlying personal grievances that may have contributed to his actions.
On July 27, 2022, Postal Inspector Bryon Green conducted surveillance on Steinle’s residence and recorded him mailing a letter while wearing gloves. The letter was addressed to the campaign office of a U.S. congressman in Delaware, Ohio. Upon inspection, this letter was found to contain a greeting card with a one-dollar bill and human feces.
By August 2, 2022, the investigation had uncovered over thirty letters and parcels containing similar disturbing material sent to various elected officials across multiple states, including Ohio, Kentucky, California, and Washington, D.C. This prompted legal action against Steinle, culminating in several criminal charges.
On August 5, 2022, Steinle was charged with taking the identity of another, a misdemeanor of the first degree. The allegations indicated that he used LKF’s initials and home address in the letters he sent. Subsequently, on October 19, 2022, he faced federal charges for mailing injurious articles, which included biowaste.
On June 6, 2023, Steinle entered a plea agreement, admitting guilt to seven counts related to the federal charges. The court documents revealed the disturbing contents of the parcels he sent, which included human feces and offensive notes directed at various judges and political figures.
The complaint highlights that Steinle knowingly mailed these parcels, thereby violating laws against sending injurious materials via the U.S. Postal Service. His actions have not only drawn legal scrutiny but have also led to professional disciplinary proceedings, with the Disciplinary Counsel asserting that he has violated key provisions of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.
On November 17, 2023, the misdemeanor case against him in Portage County was dismissed, following his plea agreement in the federal case. On March 25, 2024, Steinle was sentenced to two years of probation for the charges, with the court imposing both standard and special conditions, including a requirement to undergo mental health evaluation and treatment.
The complaint filed by the Disciplinary Counsel emphasizes that Steinle’s conduct violates rules pertaining to professional misconduct, specifically those concerning illegal acts that adversely reflect on an attorney’s honesty and trustworthiness.
The complaint states:
“Relator requests that respondent be found in violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and be sanctioned accordingly.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Steinle is an attorney in Mogadore, Ohio. He acquired his law license in Ohio in 1981.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
