Todd Lewis is one of Kentucky’s most recognized names in criminal law. During Lewis’s 15 years of experience, he served as Executive Director of Special Prosecutions with the Kentucky Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Division Chief in the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. During this time, Lewis personally handled approximately 30 criminal trials, and prosecuted hundreds more. Lewis has handled and tried cases ranging from capital murder to multi-million dollar financial fraud; from elder abuse to child abuse; from public corruption to campaign finance crimes. Lewis has appeared in courts across the Commonwealth, from Eastern Kentucky to the Purchase Area in Western Kentucky.
Abuse of Disabled and Elderly
Lewis is well-known across Kentucky for his fight on behalf of the Commonwealth’s seniors and disabled persons. He has been honored to serve as the founder of the state’s first prosecutorial Elder Abuse Unit, where he handled and supervised hundreds of cases involving elderly and disabled adults. Lewis served for several years as Chief Editor and contributing author of the state’s “Elder Abuse Manual for Prosecutors,” and as author, editor, and “star” of the instructional film “Training for Prosecution of Crimes Against the Elderly.”
Lewis has conducted trainings and teaching seminars on elder abuse for law enforcement, social workers, prosecutors, bank officials, community organizations, and college students for over ten years.
Business Fraud Victims
Lewis specialized as a prosecutor in white collar, fraud, public corruption and financial offenses for over twelve years. If you believe your business or government entity has been victimized by internal or external fraud, abuse or corrupt practices, put Lewis and his associates to work for you today. Lewis can assemble an unrivaled team of experts to investigate, advise, and litigate if necessary, corporate and governmental fraud, waste and abuse.
These types of cases are often very document and labor-intensive, attracting only lawyers of the strongest work ethic. In today’s environment of drastic government cut-backs, a business or local government who believes they have been victimized can not afford to wait to protect its business assets. needs to be thoroughly prepared and understand all their options long before deciding to involve law enforcement or seek civil justice remedies. able to approach these problems on their own terms, and with the utmost sensitivity until they are prepared
By the same token, persons accused of wrongdoing in the business environment deserve an advocate who is capable of scrutinizing all the details of the government’s case, and ensuring their rights are protected. If you are accused of a business, white collar, or financial fraud, Lewis will consider representing you if it is consistent with ethical principles.
Representation of Ordinary People
In all this time, Lewis has never forgotten his origins, however, as an intern and staff attorney with Legal Aid, where he represented poor clients and handled civil jury trials in cases ranging from consumer fraud to landlord/tenant disputes.
Todd Lewis grew up in a small town in rural area Southern Ohio, where his father was a diesel mechanic and war veteran; and his mother was a hairdresser . From humble beginnings, both know and demonstrate the long-term value of hard work, common sense, and respect for other people, better than anyone Todd has ever met.
Todd became and Eagle Scout at 16, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1992, ranked 29
th in a graduating class of 1137. He worked throughout college as busboy, waiter, laundry attendant, and factory worker; and received such prestigious scholarships as the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Fellowship. Lewis spent college spring breaks volunteering for the Christian Appalachian Project in Eastern Kentucky.
Lewis received his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he worked during law school as an extern for Federal District Judge Hermann Weber; worked as an assistant to his Administrative Law professor; worked as a licensed intern with Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society for two years; held an externship with the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office; and worked a summer for APPALRED Legal Services in the mountains of Southeast Kentucky.
It was during college that Lewis first put roots into Kentucky, beginning in 1989 when he worked as a volunteer for the Christian Appalachian Project. Throughout college and law school, Lewis worked in Kentucky, and eventually moved to Louisville in 1997, following the rest of his family, who had moved years before. Lewis began as an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Louisville, where he conducted several successful trials in consumer and housing disputes in the first years of his life as a lawyer.
Lewis is married to Kara Stinson Lewis, originally of Henry County, Kentucky, who is currently a public defender with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy and member of Harvey Brown Presbyterian Church.
EXPERIENCE
2018- LEWIS LAW, PLLC
Present Owner/Manager.
Founded small firm after semi-retirement of partner, continuing almost 9 years of general civil litigation and defense, appellate practice, police and public official representation, administrative and criminal defense
2012- PASIC & LEWIS, Louisville, Kentucky
Partner and litigator in small, dynamic office of former prosecutors, specializing in general civil litigation and defense, police and public official representation, criminal defense, employment law.
2008- OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, Frankfort, Kentucky
| 2012 |
Executive Director, Office of Special Prosecutions, supervision of unit criminal prosecutors, investigators and support staff, working prosecutor, appointments of independent counsel, prosecution and trial of criminal offenses, director of unit concentrated on fraud, public corruption, election crime, and similar offenses |
| 2004- |
COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY, Louisville Kentucky |
| 2008 |
Division Chief, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, investigation, prosecution and trial of felony offenses; supervisor and instructor of unit investigator, paralegal, junior prosecutors |
| 2000- |
COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY, Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2004 |
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney: investigation, prosecution and trial of all felony offenses, specialization: financial crime, organizational crime, elder abuse |
| 1997- |
LEGAL AID SOCIETY, INC., Louisville, KY |
| 2000 |
Staff Attorney: trial, administrative and appellate practice, community education, CLE instructor |
| 1995- |
NORTHERN KENTUCKY LEGAL AID SOCIETY, Covington, KY |
| 1997 |
Licensed practicing intern, administrative and trial practice, research |
| 1996 |
PROF, JAMES T. O'REILLY, U.C. College of Law, Cincinnati, OH
Research assistant, public sector labor relations |
| 1995- |
HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, Cincinnati, OH |
| 1996 |
Licensed intern, pretrial, trial and appellate practice, legal research |
| 1996- |
HON. HERMAN WEBER, U.S. DISTRICT COURT for the Southern
District of Ohio, Cincinnati, OH
Judicial extern |
| 1995- |
APPALACHIAN RESEARCH AND DEFENSE FUND, Prestonsburg, KY |
Legal research, litigation preparation, policy analysis
1992- DEPT. SOCIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, Lexington, KY
1994
Research, teaching assistant
EDITOR, interdisciplinary journal
Article selection, published interviews with visiting scholars
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Center for Labor Education, U. of Kentucky
LAW SCHOOL
University of Cincinnati College of Law
J.D. May 1997
College of Law Founder's Scholarship
Activities
Potter Stewart Inns of Court, Dean's List, Justice of Student Court,
Human Rights Quarterly staff, Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor;
Board, Anawim Housing, Inc.; Kentucky Mortgage and Consumer Law Training, 1995- 1997; Legal Services Federal and State Practice Training.
COLLEGE
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 1992
B.A. Summa Cum Laude G.P.A.: 3.9 Rank: 29/1137
Majors: Sociology: Research, Quantitative Methodology
Honors
University Honors Scholarship, Dean' List, Taft Research Fellow, Mortar Board National Honor Society, Gold Key Honor Society, American Sociological Association Honors Program, Seasongood Good Government Nominee, employed 20 to 40 hours during school
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
1992- Haggin Fellow, Dept. of Sociology
1994 Courses in: Research Methodology, Industrial Sociology, Agricultural Sociology
COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITES
Old Louisville / Toonerville Neighborhood Association, 2016 to present,
President and Board Member
Friends of Jefferson County Public Law Library, 2015 to present,
founder and President of nonprofit law library fundraising, support and outreach organization
Founder, Fresh Start Expungement Program, 2018 to present.
Nonprofit program of Friends of Jefferson County Public Law Library, providing expungement representation for indigent persons in Jefferson and surrounding counties. Funded with city, state, and Kentucky Bar Foundation funds.
Appointed Capital Defense Conflict Attorney, Louisville Public Defender, 2012 to present
Pro bono legal service.
Provide over 50 hours per year of informal pro bono representation at trial and appellate levels
Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2015 to present
Fraternal Order of Police, appointed counsel list, 2012 to present
Louisville Bar Association, 1997 to present
Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 2008 to 2012
Kentucky Elder Abuse Committee, Investigations Subcommittee, Cabinet for Families and Children, 2004 to 2008
Chief Editor, OAG Manual for the Prosecution of Crimes Against the Elderly. 2005 to 2008
International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, 2001 to 2008 Instructor, Louisville Metro Police Academy, 2001 to 2008
National Association of Attorneys General
Judge, University of Louisville School of Law Moot Court Board, March 1999
Judge, University of Louisville School of Law moot Court Oral Arguments, 1999 and 2000
Potter Stewart Inns of Court, 1996-1997 Louisville Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association American Bar Association
National District Attorney’s Association
CURRICULUM VITAE F. TODD LEWIS
SIGNIFICANT CLOSED CASES, TRIALS AND MATTERS
Commonwealth v. Guy Marcus Allen, (Jefferson Circuit Court, verdict September 29, 2021) (client acquitted of capital murder and all other charges)
Frederick Jones v. Commonwealth (pending as of May, 2021, Kentucky Supreme Court, 2019-SC-0651) (represent amici curiae Central Louisville Labor Council, Friends of JCPLL, KACDL, advocating for
in forma pauperis fee waivers for indigent expungement-seekers.
Michael Priddy v. Commonwealth (Court of Appeals Opinion 5/21/21, 2020-CA-045) (successful appeal of statutory interpretation of sex offender classification
Gentry v. Judicial Conduct Commission (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion 12/17/20, 2020-SC-0434) (trial and appellate defense of circuit judge accused of misconduct)
Estes v. Hon. Angela Bisig, (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion 10/29/20, 2019-SC-0335) (successful defense on appeal of denial of writ against trial judge stemming from civil judgment on behalf of client, a child sex abuse victim)
Downs v. Commonwealth, (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion 11/12/20, 2018-SC-402) (handled post-trial motion involving ineffective assistance of counsel and other constitutional issues, conviction reversed on appeal on these grounds)
Louisville Metro v. Ackerson et al, (Court of Appeals Opinion 4/24/20, 2018-CA-1067,) (successful defense on appeal of trial court ruling on appeal involving statutory conflict of interest claim against Metro councilmembers)
Torrence v. Commonwealth, (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion 2/20/20, 2018-SC-0322) (appeal of conviction involving issues of juror misconduct, application of
Daubert standard to cell phone technology)
Passmore v. Commonwealth, (Court of Appeals Opinion 7/19/19, 2018-CA-0134) (successful appeal of denial of bond exoneration on behalf of surety)
Joshua McAlpin v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion, 2018-SC-087, 6/13/19) (successful appeal of conviction, reversal for insufficient evidence)
Guy Marcus Allen v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court Order 8/21/18, 2018-SC-043-OA), successfully obtained emergency relief on petition for writ of prohibition in death penalty case from Kentucky Supreme Court)
Greene v. Commonwealth, (Kentucky Supreme Court Opinion 12/17/15, 2014-SC-0122) (appointed representation at trial and appellate level, involving motion to withdraw guilty plea)
Commonwealth v. Gibson, Gibson, McDonald & Brangers (Eastern Livestock) (Metcalfe/Barren Circuit 2012), Criminal Syndication: Organized Crime; Theft by Deception (Conviction & Restitution stemming from multi-million dollar agricultural and bank fraud)
Commonwealth v. Michael Dale St. Clair (Hardin Circuit 2012), Capital Kidnapping, Attempt Murder of Police Officer (conviction and death sentence, January 2012)
Commonwealth v. Michael Dale St. Clair (Bullitt Circuit 2011), Capital Murder (death sentence October 2011)
Commonwealth ex rel Conway v. Thompson, 300 S.W.3d 152 (Ky. 2009) (appeal on behalf of attorney general, involving authority of Corrections to grant early inmate release)
Attorney General Public Corruption Task Force (2008 to present; task force with OAG, FBI, KSP, Dept. of Revenue)
Attorney General Election Integrity Task Force (General and Primary Elections, 2008 to present)
Commonwealth v. Mark Rapone, (Marshall Circuit) (December 2009), Rape 1
st Degree, Child Under 12
Commonwealth v. Hinton (Lewis Circuit 2010), Abuse of Public Trust, Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property; Official Misconduct (Elected Official)
Commonwealth v. Ison (Elliot Circuit 2009), Abuse of Public Trust, Failure to Make Required Disposition, Official Misconduct (Elected Official)
Commonwealth v. Childress (Bullitt Circuit 2008), Rape Second Degree (Teacher)
Commonwealth v. Claudette McCracken (Jefferson Circuit) (trial May 2008), Perjury, Tampering with Public Records, Official Misconduct (Police Officer)
Commonwealth v Overson Jackson , et al (“Click Tight” Gang) (Jefferson Circuit) (trial November 2007), Criminal Syndication, Robbery, Rape, Armed Burglary
Commonwealth v. Carrie Nichols(Jefferson Circuit 2007) Financial Exploitation, Perjury, Unlawful Imprisonment
Commonwealth v. Derwin Nickelberry, et al (Jefferson Circuit 2006), Criminal Syndication, Robbery
Commonwealth v. Todd Smith & Sybil Smith, (Jefferson Circuit 2006) Theft by Deception; Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property; stemming from a nonprofit fraud
Commonwealth v. Carolyn Scoggins, (Jefferson Circuit 2006) Financial Exploitation
Commonwealth v. Sharon Frank, (Jefferson Circuit 2005) Abuse and Neglect by Caretaker; Financial Exploitation
Commonwealth v. Cecil Burks, (Jefferson Circuit 2005)Abuse and Neglect by Caretaker
Commonwealth v. Frank Smith, Jr. (Jefferson Circuit 2005) Abuse and Neglect by Caretaker, Attempt Financial Exploitation
Commonwealth v. Courtney Trowell, (Jefferson Circuit 2005) Murder, stemming from drug trade rivalry
Commonwealth v. Avram Cimmering, (Jefferson Circuit 2005) Theft by Deception, stemming from an “equity skimming” scheme by corporate landlord.
Commonwealth v. Rebecca Hughes & Bob Hughes, (Jefferson Circuit 2004) Manslaughter, Abuse and Neglect by Caretaker, Financial Exploitation
Commonwealth v. Kim Kender, (Jefferson Circuit 2003), Financial Exploitation of Disabled Adult
Commonwealth v. Dennis Lee & United Community Services, Inc, (Jefferson Circuit 2003) Misrepresentation in Sale of Business Opportunities
Commonwealth v. Timothy Beckman & Cutting Edge Services Corporation, Inc., (Jefferson Circuit 2001) Commercial Bribery, Receiving Stolen Property
PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS
Lafler & Frye: The Constitutionalization of Plea Bargaining, Kentucky Capital Litigation Training, Lexington, Kentucky, May 2012
Prosecuting Elder Abuse: Role of Victim Advocates, Kentucky Victim Assistance Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, April 2012
Nominee, Capital Litigator of the Year, Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation, March, 2012
Prosecutors’ Response to Elder Abuse, Annual Kentucky Prosecutors’ Conference, Lexington, Kentucky, August 2011
The Criminal Discovery Process, Kentucky Capital Litigation Training, July 2010
Elder Abuse Through the Criminal Justice System, University of Kentucky Summer Series on Aging, UK Chandler Medical Center, June 2010
Financial Exploitation of the Elderly, Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention, June 2009
OAG Investigators’ Law Updates, Office of Attorney General, August 2008 to present
Media Relations for Prosecutors, Kentucky Prosecutors’ Institute, September, 2008
Kentucky Prosecutors’ Institute, KPI, September, 2008 (trial practice trainer)
Creative Probation Conditions, Kentucky Prosecutors’ Conference, August 2008
Digital Forensics Prosecutor’s Conference, Kentucky Regional Computer Forensics Lab, June 2007
Elder Abuse: from Backroom to Courtroom, Veritas Organization, Bellarmine University, March, 2006
Strategic Use of the Rules of Evidence, Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney New Prosecutor Training Program, March, 2006
Prosecutor’s Elder Abuse Training (Film Companion to
OAG Manual) (produced, scripted and filmed), Prosecutor’s Advisory Council, February, 2006
OAG Manual for the Prosecution of Crimes Against the Elderly¸ Office Of Kentucky Attorney General, Chief Editor, Contributing Author, January, 2006; update 2009
Crimes Against the Elderly: Strengthening State Responses, Council of State Governments, Annual Meeting, Wilmington, Delaware; December, 2005
Crimes Against the Elderly: Health Care and End of Life Issues, CLE Course, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, June, 2005
Elder Abuse: Issues for Prosecutors, Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Association Winter Conference, 2004
Elder Abuse: Train the Trainer, Louisville Metro Police Training Academy, September, 2004
Robbery, Louisville Metro Police Department Training Academy, September, 2004
Miscellaneous Penal Code Offenses, Louisville Police Department Training Academy, August 2004
Crimes Against Seniors, Hazard, Kentucky, Area Development District, February, 2004
Crimes and Scams Against the Elderly, May 2003
Elder Abuse: Issues for Prosecutors, Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Association Winter Conference, 2003
Crimes Against the Elderly, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, Annual Conference, March 2003
Robbery, Jefferson County Police Department, Southfields Training Academy, 2002
Robbery, Louisville Police Department Training Academy, 2002
Evidence Law for Police Louisville Police Department Training Academy, 2002
Elder Abuse for First Responders Seminar, Louisville Division of Police, June 2002
