Stoughton attorney charged with child porn can still practice law

Richard Comenzo

STOUGHTON – A day after Richard Comenzo stood in Stoughton District Court in handcuffs facing child pornography charges, the Stoughton attorney was due in the same courthouse to defend several of his clients.

Comenzo, 62, of 15 Walnut Ave., Stoughton, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography on Tuesday at Stoughton District Court.

Comenzo, who posted bail and was released Tuesday, did not appear in the Stoughton courthouse to defend his clients Wednesday. He will, however, be able to continue practicing law while his own case is pending, said Constance Vecchione, chief bar counsel of the Office of the Bar Counsel.

The Office of the Bar Counsel and the Board of Bar Overseers work in conjunction to investigate and evaluate complaints against Massachusetts lawyers and, when necessary, discipline them. When criminal cases against lawyers arise, like in the case of Comenzo, their only role is to hand down discipline to attorneys if they are convicted while law enforcement officials execute their own investigations.

Because Comenzo is innocent until proven guilty and because his alleged crimes did not involve his practice of the law, he is not currently facing suspension from the Board of Bar Overseers, Vecchione said.

“The fact that someone has been arraigned or indicted is not a conviction. So if it’s not a matter that otherwise requires a temporary suspension, which usually are situations that arise out of the practice of law, then yes, he is allowed to practice,” Vecchione said.

“We’re aware of this, and we’ll follow it, and if there’s a conviction, there will be disciplinary proceedings,” she said.

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Stoughton attorney charged with child porn can still practice law