Lawyer of the Day, People's Choice: Beth Modica
For Monday's Lawyer of the Day, we faced an embarrassment of riches -- of embarrassment. So we nominated a quintet of contenders: a North Carolina lawyer caught reading Maxim in court, a former prosecutor who allegedly had sex with two teenage boys, an AUSA arrested on DUI charges, a Canadian lawyer/politician who allegedly overbilled an order of nuns, and a Chicago lawyer who keyed a Marine's car. Then we had you vote on who should take the honors.
Participation was enthusiastic, with almost 1,300 votes cast. Two contenders emerged early in the voting: Beth Modica, the allegedly predatory prosecutrix, and Jay Grodner, who pleaded guilty to keying the Marine's vehicle. Competition was fierce. But in the end, Mrs. Modica came out on top.
So congratulations, Beth Modica. You take the prize as Monday's Lawyer of the Day!
Read more about her alleged misadventures, after the jump.
In preparing our initial capsule summaries of the contestants, we kept it brief. But since Beth Modica is our winner, she deserves to have more ink spilled about her. From WSFB.com:
A former suburban prosecutor and PTA president had sex with two underage boys, joined many other teens in booze and pot parties and kept it all a secret from her police chief husband, officials said Tuesday.
Wonders one commenter: "So if she had informed her police chief husband, it all would have been okay?"
Beth Modica, 44, was indicted on 35 counts alleging statutory rape, criminal sex acts, sex abuse and endangering children. Wearing an olive-gray suit and handcuffs, she pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Rockland County Court and was ordered held on $75,000 bail.
We like the fashion reporting in the article ("an olive-gray suit"). Are handcuffs this season's must-have accessory?
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Modica had intercourse and oral sex with a 16-year-old boy and oral sex with a 15-year-old boy last summer, and on several occasions served and shared alcohol and marijuana with "many" other teens from Suffern High School at her Sloatsburg home or in her car.
Party at Mrs. Modica's house! As one commenter noted, "Give it up to her for being smart enough to know that if you give teenage boys enough booze and pot they will tap anything."
Beth Modica's lawyer, Gerard Damiani, said the couple, who had lived in Sloatsburg, had separated. He said she is living with her mother, who was in court but did not comment.
Not terribly surprising. Being accused of sleeping with teenage boys probably doesn't do wonders for your marriage.
Paul Modica's lawyer, John Edwards, said, "Paul's sole interest at this point is protecting his children. ... He's trying to make sure the kids are impacted as little as possible."
Edwards also added: "I am the son of a mill worker. And I will FIGHT for Paul and his children!"
If convicted of rape or criminal sex acts, Beth Modica would face 16 months to four years in prison.Arguing that his client should be freed without bail, Damiani said, "Her character has never been questioned except for these allegations." He said she was in good standing with the state bar association.
And she was current with her CLE, too. Including those pesky Ethics credits -- 'cause sleeping with teenage boys is okay, as long as they're not your clients.
Earlier: Lawyer of the Day: People's Choice

Dubious first honors...
Already happened: Abraham Lincoln.
Well, for at least one kid, it's "MIDF."
No, not a MILF. Not unless you've had 13 Rheingolds and smoked a blunt.
I'd hit it for an expungement!
Someday I would like to be a DILF.
Lat, what's this we hear about a new decision in the XOXO.com case?!
12:07, I respectfully disagree.
12:18 - No, I'm not. I don't have children (I am aware of), and thus, I am not a Dad.
Wasn't there a rumor that the kids receiving oral tutoring from Ms. Modica were actually members of the HS hockey team and teammates of one of her children. I guess this means no more spearing at the Modica household.
"Competition was fierce. But in the end, Mrs. Modica came out on top."
Really? I would have thought she came out on the bottom, with the teenage boys on top. But maybe she likes it the other way around.
MILF? More like slumpbuster.
She looks like a witch! But hey, when you're a 16 year old boy there's an itch to scratch.
Is it a big deal, Frat Stud??
2:34,
The ugly chick slept with the boys and the marine got his car keyed by some guy.
But who got slapped by the fat summer associate at the bar?
My judgement may have been off when I was in HS, but I still wouldn't have hit THAT.
My judgement may have been poor when I was in HS, but I still wouldn't have hit THAT.
3:38, guys in my high school would have sex with the police chief's wife all the time. It was no big deal.
3:38, guys in my high school would have sex with the police chief's wife all the time. It was no big deal.
3:48 It's not that she's the Chief's wife, it's that she's a DOG, RUF RUF RUF...
There should be no jail time for this as long as the boys are pubescent. No guy thinks this is anything remotely approaching a crime unless he is a Christian conservative (or some other kind of religious nutjob).
Leave this garbage to Bill O'Reilly. Now keying the marine's car is another story...