ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Former Blair County attorney Michael B. Cohen faces new charges, this time for allegedly falsifying a judge’s name in fabricated custody orders, the Attorney General’s Office (OAG) said.
These new charges come after Cohen was indicted in March for allegedly trying to help another client avoid a PFA breach.
In 2020, a couple decided to file for divorce, which ultimately led to a custody battle over their child. A Fayette County judge in late 2020 ordered the mother barred from transporting the child to Blair County, documents show.
In February 2021, Cohen reportedly accepted an advance of $5,000 plus $5,000 in legal fees to represent the mother in the custody case.
According to investigators, on Dec. 21, 2022, Cohen reached out to the mother to tell her that a new custody order had been issued that would allow her to have the child during the Christmas holidays and advised her not to be with the child’s father to communicate. Two days later, Cohen allegedly sent the mother a picture of the restraining orders, signed by an out-of-county judge, which turned out to be fake.
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Investigators said the mother never returned the child to the father after the separation due to Cohen’s legal advice, which led to the father filing a complaint with the Blairsville Police Department.
On February 9, 2023, when a custody hearing was scheduled, Cohen allegedly faxed the judge on office letterhead saying that he had filed a resignation letter with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. It was noted that Cohen also mentioned that a disqualification order was forthcoming.
According to the affidavit, Cohen admitted the forged documents and advised the mother not to return the child to the father. Cohen claimed he was fed up with the case and told the mother what he thought she wanted to hear.
“As a family law attorney and court official, Mr. Cohen knew better than anyone the importance of custody decisions and the critical role of attorneys working in this area,” said Attorney General Henry. “By acting, Mr. Cohen violated not only the duty he owed his client, but also the court.”
“Mr. “Cohen has cooperated fully with the AG office in investigating this matter and resolving the underlying custody issue,” Cohen’s attorney, Dan Kiss, told WTAJ. “We maintain that there has been no criminal conduct. Each action has been, to assist a client who he believed had been treated unfairly in the custody matter.”
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Cohen now faces charges of forgery, tampering with records and obstruction. He was charged by MDJ Miller on Thursday morning, June 8, and was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.
Cohen’s charges were all dropped in court.
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