NC State Bar Investigates Lawyer for Treatment of Vulnerable Exonerees

The North Carolina state bar has launched an investigation against Florida lawyer Patrick Megaro for his treatment of two North Carolina exonerees, one of whom was exonerated from death row. Henry McCollum and his half-brother Leon served decades in prison for the rape and murder of an 11 year old girl before DNA evidence proved their innocence. The two young mentally disabled teens were coerced into signing false confessions and convicted despite scant physical evidence. They received $750,000 each from the state in compensation. Lawyer Patrick Megaro collected one third of each award after virtually no work on the exonerations or pardons. He approved loans at 42 percent interest for them and a $20,000 payment to two women who described themselves as “advocates.” McCollum lost all of his money and began borrowing more money at 39 percent with the lawyer’s approval. Learn more here.