So That’s What it Takes to Get Disbarred

Former O’Hara, PA councilman and lawyer Samuel Pontier was convicted of setting a house on fire with his bedridden daughter inside.

Pontier resigned from the state bar following his conviction in February of various crimes in connection with the Dec. 29, 2006, fire at his family’s home and his license was suspended in February of 2007.  

Mr. Pontier said investigators he started the fire because he was frustrated his estranged wife kept an untidy house.  His daughter, Kristin, 17, who has cerebral palsy and was unable to flee the blaze, suffered smoke inhalation and burns to her esophagus.

Pontier had been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, two counts of arson and three counts of reckless endangerment, but prosecutors withdrew the charge of attempted homicide when the suspect cooperated with the police investigation.  Pontier plead guilty to charges of aggravated assault and arson, and the other counts were withdrawn.  He was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison and a long probation on his release.

The disciplinary board of the Pennsylvania bar finally ordered him disbarred October 30, 2008.