Judge's gavel in a courtroom trial.
Judge's gavel in a courtroom trial.

Disbarred attorney charged in New Jersey with theft and practicing law without a license

TOMS RIVER, NJ – A disbarred attorney from Utah has been charged with theft by deception and unauthorized practice of law after allegedly posing as a licensed attorney and collecting thousands of dollars from a client in Ocean County, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that 54-year-old David T. Schlendorf, of Holladay, Utah, was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by the prosecutor’s Economic Crime Squad and the Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau.

Authorities said that in March 2025, a Toms River resident hired Schlendorf to represent him in a legal matter and paid him approximately $10,000 in fees — unaware that Schlendorf had been disbarred in New Jersey in December 2022.

Investigation reveals misrepresentation

Detectives determined that Schlendorf falsely presented himself as a practicing attorney while taking payment for legal services. He was taken into custody in Toms River and is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor urges other potential victims to come forward

“If anyone else has paid Mr. Schlendorf in connection with legal services after December of 2022, I urge you to contact Detective Jason Putkowski of the Toms River Police Department or Sgt. Lindsay Llauget of our office,” Billhimer said.

The prosecutor commended investigators from both agencies for their “combined and collective efforts” in uncovering the alleged scheme.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.