Illinois woman sentenced for posing as attorney in public defender’s office

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (KTVI) -- She graduated from law school but apparently couldn't pass the bar. Authorities said she faked being an attorney in the Madison County public defender's office. On Friday, she pleaded guilty to a felony in an Edwardsville courtroom.

Kelcie Miller, 26, got probation and she was ordered to pay back more than $40,000 to the county for pay and benefits she received. She had worked on scores of cases with defendants.

Miller apparently forged a state document saying she was a licensed lawyer. Authorities said she pulled off the crime while working in the public defender's office on about 80 different cases.

She faced criminal charges of impersonating an attorney and forging an Illinois Attorney Registration Card, as well as a theft charge for the taxpayer-funded salary she received.

Public defender John Rekowski, Miller's former boss, said his 11 attorneys -- three of whom work part-time -- already had a huge caseload: approximately 3,500 cases a year. This crime resulted in even more work for his office.

The public defender said he's being more thorough in making sure his lawyers have licenses. The prosecutor said Miller failed the bar exam three times.