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Asbury Park Housing Authority counsel Kevin Wigenton was censured by the New Jersey Supreme Court Tuesday, ending a decade-old disciplinary case that could have led to his disbarment as a lawyer.

According to a report on the Red Bank Green website, the court ruled 5-1 to censure Wigenton for faulty bookkeeping practices. The Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE), the court’s attorney oversight arm, had sought disbarment.

Rejecting the OAE’s position, the Supreme Court still found Wigenton had engaged in a negligent misappropriation of funds, although not a purposeful one.

The court also cited Wigenton’s cooperative behavior over the course of the disciplinary reviews:

“Respondent was cooperative during the investigation, contrite, and did not attempt to conceal his errant recordkeeping practices. Rather, respondent underwent educational programs and correction of his business and accounting practices such that no errors have been found since.”

Red Bank Green could not reach Wigenton for comment. The attorney also serves as the Red Bank Public Defender. To read Red Bank Green’s report, click here. To read the full text of the Supreme Court’s decision, click here.

 

 

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