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66 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, July 7, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 3, 2004 Ashland lawyer faces theft counts By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A former Ashland attorney who ran afoul of the State Bar is now in trouble with the law. Disbarred in December, Ron Cue now faces 14 counts of felony theft stemming from allegations that he stole funds from a business partner and falsified the books to cover up discrepancies in the account. Cue has been summoned to appear on the charges Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court. Cue, 54, ended his 26-year Jackson County law practice in March. The Oregon Supreme Court stripped Cue of his law credential because he violated ethical standards for an attorney, including misleading his clients, failing to account for legal fees and even forging the name of a judge on legal documents, according to court records. Cue had previously been suspended from practicing law in 1990 and again in 1998 for similar issues, said Kateri Walsh, spokesman for the Oregon State Bar Association. The Bar admonished Cue for neglect in 1984 and 1986, Walsh added. As the Bar in 2002 was investigating complaints against Cue, his former business partner, Richard Schultz, of the Ashland investment management firm Schultz and Associates Inc., started suspecting Cue may be involved with funds missing from the partnership’s bank account. The two men jointly owned a building at 125 N. Second St., Ashland, that housed their respective business offices. Cue, however, handled all the finances. Advertisement Partnership checks were returned for insufficient funds, and Schultz received notice that the county was planning to foreclose on the property because taxes hadn’t been paid. Cue also submitted state and federal tax returns in 1999, 2000 and 2001 with false information, Schultz claims. Although Cue paid the county more than $12,000 in back taxes from the partnership fund and returned a portion of the missing money, Schultz filed a civil suit against his former partner. A Josephine County judge awarded Schultz more than $30,000 late last year, but the matter has not been completely settled, Schultz said. "He has not simply admitted or said ‘I messed up,’ " Schultz said. Schultz reported the alleged theft to Ashland police in 2002. But charges only recently were filed because detectives had more pressing crimes to investigate, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office initially was unsure how to proceed, said Ashland police Detective Brent Jensen. A grand jury indicted Cue Tuesday on 14 counts of first-degree theft. Josephine County District Attorney Clay Johnson will prosecute the case to avoid a conflict of interest. In an interview Wednesday, Cue called the situation a "business disagreement." He said he owes Schultz no money. "The whole matter has been totally settled as far as I’m concerned," he said. While Cue blamed his problems with the Bar Association on a mental illness, he said his mental state did not play a role in his dealings with Schultz or management of the partnership. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times