High-profile Pittsburgh attorney accused of hit-and-run weeks after being charged with smuggling drugs into county jail

PITTSBURGH — A well-known Pittsburgh attorney is in trouble again weeks after being charged with smuggling synthetic marijuana into the Allegheny County Jail.

Paul Gettleman was indicted by a grand jury two weeks ago on Dec. 13, accused of smuggling K-2 into the jail.

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But Gettleman also got a surprise summons on Christmas Eve for an alleged hit-and-run in the parking garage right next to the courthouse.

A woman claims she was driving behind Gettleman up the ramps of the parking garage on First Avenue. She told investigators he was driving erratically and repeatedly slammed on his brakes – and then he put his Audi in reverse and slammed into her.

According to court paperwork, Gettleman then "exited his Audi, stared directly at her for a brief period, checked his vehicle for damages… then departed up the ramp."

Court documents said investigators started taking notice of Gettleman after he carried a green folder into the wrong entrance and left after less than two minutes with a client. Investigators said he charged up to $1,000 to deliver the drugs to clients.

Channel 11 legal analyst and defense attorney Phil DiLucente called charges like these “an uphill battle."

“It could be devastating to not only a legal career, but also your liberty. This is a very, very serious set of allegations brought by a Grand Jury that involved numerous amounts of manpower and victims that were involved,” he said.

Lawyer accused of smuggling drugs into Allegheny County Jail Lawyer accused of smuggling drugs into Allegheny County Jail

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