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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > June > 05 > Entry
Ex-con turned lawyer gets off probation
Derek Farmer, an attorney who served 18 years in prison as an accomplice to two Dayton murders, got his law license back a year ago on a probationary status. On Friday, June 5, the Ohio Supreme Court took him off probation.
In November 2006, the supreme court suspended Farmer for a year for misconduct and reinstated his license in April 2008. The complaints against Farmer stemmed from two imprisoned clients and their families, who paid Farmer for work in 2002. He later withdrew from representing them and his work for his fees was disputed.
Farmer was sent to prison for his role in the 1974 shooting deaths of Dayton police Sgt. William K. Mortimer and civil rights leader W.S. McIntosh in the wake of a jewelry store robbery in downtown Dayton. Farmer was 16 at the time.
McIntosh was outside the jewelry store as Farmer and his nephew, Calvin Jerome Farmer, then 18, ran from the shop and he told them to stop. Derek Farmer complied. His cousin shot McIntosh. That same morning, Derek Farmer surrendered seconds before his nephew fatally shot Mortimer, 43, as police closed in on a housing project in Dayton.
Calvin Farmer was convicted of murder, but served the then eight-year minimum before he was paroled in 1983.
While in prison Derek Farmer earned his high school and college diplomas before his release on Oct. 29, 1992. He passed the bar in 1999.
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Comments
By sister
June 24, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
To all the racist and haters out there. Let me set the record straight. Mr. Farmer was a 16 year old drug addict who committed a terrible crime - he attempted to rob a jewelry store. He did not kill anyone; he surrendered before anyone was killed. He served his time, as the law requires; he received his education and he is a productive citizen in this country. Most of all, he is a Christian who knows where his forgiven lies. I pray that you haters never have a drug problem or mental health issues and do something stupid. If you can guarantee yourself you won’t, you will have a blessed life forever. GOOD LUCK!By L Berry
June 8, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this
The real point in this piece is that he served his time, got an education and a law degree and then committed an offense/crime that would have gotten Joe Average jail time. As a lawyer, the loss of license is like conviction for crime, but fellow lawyers/Judges protect their own.By TheScoopyDoop.com
June 7, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
KUDOS!! Keep you Head up. Shake the HATER OFF!! TheScoopyDoop.com Log on check out Keston Karter new face of Euro-Basketball. Karter new faBy joe
June 6, 2009 8:09 PM | Link to this
He will probably make another mistake before he is disbarred. Hope non of my family are around when he doosBy Steve
June 6, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
Convicted of a felony then convicted of misconduct. Sounds like he hasn’t or won’t learn his lesson.By Jimmy
June 6, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
I’ve met him, I think he’s a bit slimy acting but then most lawyers are. I think he plays fast and loose with his cases and Judge Rice has helped him more than he should. Had farmer been white there would have been no help from that court. Still, he served his time and deserves a chance. Screw it up Derek, you’re done.By bob
June 6, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
Murder is not a mistake. Forgive, but do not forget. As far as I’m concerned if you murder one person, no matter the circumstances, you should never be free again.By change
June 6, 2009 7:57 AM | Link to this
i dont think we should trust this guy.now he knows how to be above the law legally….By Randy
June 6, 2009 7:36 AM | Link to this
So tell me the difference……a criminal (murderer)then and a criminal(lawyer) now???By simonne liberty
June 6, 2009 5:55 AM | Link to this
Once a person is convicted of a crime, even if they are innocent, and had to lie for a plea bargain, they get a life sentence of rejection by a self righteous society. we are NOT a forgiving society. Then we call ourselves, “Christians.”By sam
June 6, 2009 5:49 AM | Link to this
Once a person is convicted of a crime, even if they are INNOCENT (by way of a plea bargain) they get a life sentence of rejection by a self righteous society . We are a society of NON forgivers, then we call ourselves “Christians.” Not all people who go to prison are serial killers, but society may as well put them all in that category, because that is how they are treated. What ever happened to, “Judge not lest ye be judged?” We have ALL sinned and fall short of Gods glory.By trash
June 6, 2009 3:03 AM | Link to this
derek, f uBy MallCop
June 5, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this
Where in the law does it say he must be forgiven? thumbing through the laws now but I don’t see it anywhere. Do you have a page number. I can’t commend him on what he has done with his future because that would be jumping the gun (no pun intended). What he has done up to this point in his life is nothing to be get excited about…he killed a cop…he killed a preacher and he bilked tax payers to pay for his law degree which he has already misused and been suspended. I guess OJ is an upstanding citizen too….huh?By Jeff TWP
June 5, 2009 10:05 PM | Link to this
Mr. Farmer was 16 years old when his committed his crime, and has served his time. Will he ever be able to restore the lives of the people he murder? No. We call this country a country of laws, under the laws he has been forgiven. During the time he was in prison, he attempted to make something of himself. Until he has committed another crime (which I don’t think he will), get off his back. 80% of the people released from prison to back to prison, he has not. He has made lemonade out of lemons. Is what he did in the past forgivable? NO! Is what he has done with his future commendable? YES!By MallCop
June 5, 2009 7:38 PM | Link to this
Lock them up and throw away the key!!! I would rather see tax dollars go to prisons and jails. Start huge work farms to supplement the food and labor supply. Let them get on with their lives? Sgt. Mortimer and McIntosh don’t have that option. Farmer served his time and has really come out to make a difference by what…defending more thugs like himself? This guys should be out there making amends with law enforcement and the church every friggin day of his life if he was truly sorry for what he had done! People who do horrible things in this world and then prop themselves up should not be placed on this pedestal or looked at as some kind of success because I bought them an education…Jeffrey Dahmer could read too! It means nothing. Instead of trying to idolize and worship what a killer has done FOR HIMSELF in prison, why don’t you focus your time and efforts to the real heroes and idols….The rev and the police sergeant.By Former Prisoner
June 5, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this
I am writing this strickly to the person signed as OUTRAGED. YOU are the problem in our society today. Obviously, you have never made a mistake in your life and you are perfect, right? No, I suppose you are not. People make mistakes and they deserve forgiveness. This man spent 18 years of his life in prison. Yes, he committed a crime and he paid for it dearly. No time in or out of prison will bring a person back to life and I pray for the police officer and his family and all of the victims of crimes but if we continue to send people to prison for the rest of their lives for making a mistake then half of society would be in prison. I pray that you will see some goodness in people and realize that some people can change but not with people’s mindset like yours. Hopefully, one day you will realize that when people find a mistake in you.By bob
June 5, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
Chances are he’ll be disbarred in a few years anyway.By Thinkaboutit
June 5, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this
First let me say the man did his time, next while he didn’t actually shoot the police sargeant and the civil rights leader, under Ohio law he might as well have. I do not always agree with this but if you commit a felony crime and someone dies you are just as responsible. This does not change the fact that the real monster was the cousin that pulled the trigger, obviously Mr. Farmer realized his mistakes and went to stop not once but twice during the ordeal, why Ohio law holds him resposible we need to recognize that he did not pull the trigger or incite the other to do so, this has to mean something. The man did his time and obtained a law degree, let him give back to society, maybe what he should do is offer pro bono work to all the Dayton officers that sway to the other side of the law. Don’t get me wrong there are alot of very very fine officers at the Dayton Police Dept that do great work everyday only to be held down by Mayor Mcclin and her clown squad. I will always have the utmost respect for Dayton Police but there are some bad apples in there.Mr. Farmer needs to give back to society in some way by taking a very loved and respected Dayton officer, whether he pulled the trigger makes no diffrence he was there and that makes him responsible, sad but true. But he can change and make a diffrence if he really wants too……………………………………………………………………………By MMB
June 5, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this
Grandma Sue, you obviosuly weren’t the recipient of the “the bad touch”. You need to compare apples to apples or in your case perverts to perverts.By get real people
June 5, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this
Okay, the article is about a lawyer, not a sex offender- so grandma sue get a life! I’ve got a child you dirty b@@tard! I want to know exactly where the sex offenders are! Secondly, his cousin shot and killed the officer & Rev. McIntosh. It clearly states he stopped when commanded! Yes, he was wrong, but if he has “done the time for his crime” then he should be free to life freely. That is all…….Class dismissedBy Ethel S
June 5, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
This is a poorly written story. Is it about rehabilitation or another lawyer getting away with murder?By Give sec. Chances
June 5, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
I think that Ex crimminals should be given a second chance, some come out with more book knowledge then the rest of society that have a chance ofadvancing on the outside im not saying what tthey done is right but not giving them a oppurtunity to work and advance in life is not the answer is not the answer having no job, no money can set a \ person back in the life of crime thats anyone now days no one want to walk around to walk around with out money or not knowing where ther next dollar coming from society rather give these females and male that chooses to sit around and have a house full of kids and no job help rather then a man or women who has a crimminal history a chanceBy really informed
June 5, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this
Chuck - a large number of people on registries did nothing even remotely close to touching a child - that is part of the problem - people think all people on the registry are child molesters when they aren’t - it’s not a very good tool if people don’t even know why/how people get on it. It is not okay to touch a child inappr touch a child inappropriately, or an adult, but registries don’t work - there is no evidence that the prevent any crimes, and indeed cause the never has been.By confused
June 5, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
I so agree with outraged.By ELW
June 5, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
You are so right, get real. If you want criminals to reform then you must let them by hiring them. I hate employers who want a squeaky clean background for a job that requires no bonding. Give them a chance.By flipper
June 5, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
Nepotism at it’s finest.By Gman
June 5, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Granda Sue sure is obsessed with this sexoffender thing…she must thinks it’s okay for an old man to touch kiddiesBy get real
June 5, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Truth is once a person is in jail, prison, they have a record and nobody will hire them. They will not qualify for any profession that is licensed and as a society we never stop the punishment. By refusing to allow people to get on with their lives we keep our prisons full. It is not very smart of us.By Chuck
June 5, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this
Grandma Sue, while I am sorry for your luck that your husband is a pedophile, people who are mentally disposed to touching kids need to be tracked after offending.By outraged
June 5, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
let see here…Kill a Cop..get a LIFE sentence…out in 18 years…Doesnt sound like “LIFE” to me. Sounds to me like he has NOT paid his debt to society…OR SGT. Mortimer!!! Hmm…a lawyer gets a DUI and gets disbarred but this guy killed a cop and gets to become one??? I dont care if a person CAN change, some things are NOT forgivable and you should NOT be given another chance. Sgt. Mortimer sure as hell didnt get another chance in life!!!By Chuck
June 5, 2009 10:44 AM | Link to this
ok, wait. Someone clear this up for me because this article is written so poorly. Was it his nephew or cousin that shot both people? The artcle mentions both. And explain how the person that shot and killed two people served 8 years, but Derek Farmer serves 18???By Grandma Sue
June 5, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this
If there are success stories like these for ex-cons, why do we continue to step on the necks of those convicted of a sex offense 20-years ago? Mr. Farmer was involved in robbing and killing two people, yet there’s no “registries” for people who rob. And murder. Yet each year, Ohio tax payers spend tens of millions registering grandpas who were accused of “a bad touch” twenty years ago. Personally, I want my tax dollars catching today’s criminals - not harassing decades old criminals. Mr. Farmer - congratulations on changing your life for the better.By MIKE
June 5, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this
Derek Farmer is not the poster boy for rehabilitation—he was-and still is a bad guy. Federal Judge Walter Rice used his power to help Derek get his law license, but Judge Rice didn’t seem to know he was helping a Skunk of a human being.By poppawu
June 5, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Lets hope that people will Mr. farmer get on with his life. Good Luck Mr. Farmer.