EVERETT — A former Lynnwood attorney admitted Wednesday that last year he attempted to smuggle heroin to an inmate inside the Snohomish County Jail.
Patrick Mullen faces up to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug possession with the intent to deliver. He also pleaded guilty to trying to introduce contraband inside a jail. Mullen, 64, is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
He plans to ask for a special sentence for drug offenders, which would convert some of his prison time to drug treatment.
Mullen reportedly told detectives that he became addicted to prescription pain killers after undergoing hip surgery several years ago. Mullen said he’d become hooked on heroin too, according to a police affidavit filed last year in Everett District Court. Mullen said he agreed to smuggle heroin to inmates and, in return, he kept some of the drugs for his own use.
Mullen resigned as an attorney in March 2010 in lieu of being disbarred, according to the Washington State Bar Association. He was first admitted to the bar in 1976 and practiced criminal defense and civil litigation.
Despite earlier giving up his license to practice law, Mullen continued to meet with inmates at the jail and identified himself as an attorney. Records show that Mullen visited several inmates every five to six days from mid-May through July in 2010.
A confidential informant tipped police off to Mullen’s activities. Detectives arrested Mullen as he was preparing to meet with an offender awaiting trial for violent assault and drug charges. Police found heroin in Mullen’s pocket.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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