A little about Patrick Dayton McNeal - fraud of Oklevueha Native American Church

As you are now likely becoming aware, a current investigation is in effect regarding fraudulent activities encompassing the associates of Matthew Pappas Law Firm of Long Beach, California's affiliation with Oklevueha Native American Church, and in addition to the limelight befalling on former church counsel Matthew Pappas, the road of treachery and deceit are revealing a much deeper conspiracy going on at the hand and instruction of Pappas in broadening beyond everyone's expectation.

Patrick D. McNeal, an associate and among the few remaining "employee's" of Pappas has found himself in a hot seat as he was confronted by representatives of both Oklevueha as well as the Ojibway Native American Church, including Ambassador Sachem Joy Graves and Youth Delegate Tyler Chillson put McNeal Friday afternoon in his new Joint-office with attorney Charnell James in Marysville, California.

McNeal was put on official notice for operating an illegal church under the name and reputation of Oklevueha Native American Church (ONAC) who founders confirm McNeal had no legal right nor authority to do. Sachem Joy Graves as Ambassador of ONAC, along with Youth Delegate Tyler Chillson of the Cree Nation demanded McNeal and this so called "Church" immediately seize and dissist from any and all activities proclaimed to be sanctioned by Oklevueha Native American Church. (Patrick McNeal white shirt, bald head in photo)

Both James and Linda Mooney, founders of Oklevueha have confirmed that McNeal had absolutely no authority to be out publicly representing himself as Oklevueha muchless "Selling or Soliciting" anything to do with ONAC in any way, and we are assured that only James himself can bless an ONAC into legal existence, which they assure was never the case when it comes to Patrick McNeal nor his incorporated "Church" titled "Life Churches of ONAC INC." Representative voices of the church state that in addition to an actual Series of physical Blessing Ceremonies on a location, that legal documentation has to be recorded with the Mother Church as well as recorded with a state by James And Notorized!"If it is to be a legally bona-fide Oklevueha Native American Church.

The Mooney's both additionally confirm they have no knowledge or record of any "LifeSpring ONAC Ministries" having ever sought Mooney's blessing as a church as well which surprisingly came to light just prior to McNeal's church being ordered shut down that was identified in a secondary scam attempt upon their "Dispensary" victims which was presented as a "Legal Protection Package" McNeal was attempting to sell to false branch leaders for an additional $25,000.00. In reading the hard copy McNeal provided to one victim, it clearly states in the last article definition of the package that the package "Does NOT" protect the purchaser not Only from legal/criminal prosecution but also states that it does Not protect the purchaser from Income Tax issues either.

As the investigation continues, thus far it has been determined that McNeal, per the instruction of Matthew Pappas, has been soliciting ONAC churches for those wishing to profiteer off their most recent sacrament of contraversy, Cannabis. Literally hundreds of thousands of dollars has been collected by McNeal for independant branches of Oklevueha Native American Church along with contracts calling for hundreds of thousands more being owed by these new church leaders... the problem being, these expensive branches stem from an Illegal church!

The following information was obtained from the state of California on McNeal, which paints quite the picture of both his honor, trustability and character as an overall human being:

February 26, 2010:

PATRICK DAYTON McNEAL [#62102], 61, of Santa Ana was disbarred Feb. 26, 2010, and was ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court.

In a default proceeding that followed six prior disciplinary orders in 20 years, the State Bar Court found that McNeal committed 39 counts of misconduct in five matters. The court found that he failed to return unearned fees, perform legal services, account for client funds, communicate with his client and cooperate with the bar’s investigation. He also committed acts of moral turpitude, commingled personal and client funds in his trust account and abandoned clients.

In recommending McNeal’s disbarment, Judge Donald F. Miles said McNeal has “repeatedly committed misconduct during 21 of the 35 years of his practice. This is (his) seventh disciplinary proceeding. Probation and suspension have proven inadequate to prevent continued misconduct. And, no compelling mitigation has been shown.”

In all five cases, McNeal represented criminal defendants but did little or no work. When the clients sought refunds of their fees, he either issued a check against insufficient funds or ignored the requests.

He deposited personal and client funds in his trust account and either wrote bad checks or tried to make electronic transfers of funds.

December 12, 2004:

PATRICK D. McNEAL [#62102], 55, of Brea was actually suspended for 60 days, beginning Dec.12, 2004.

McNeal did not comply with rule 955, as required by a 2003 disciplinary order. He submitted two incomplete compliance affidavits before submitting a corrected version late.

He has been disciplined five previous times; the underlying matter was a suspension imposed for committing seven acts of misconduct in two cases.

November 21, 2003:

PATRICK DAYTON McNEAL [#62102], 54, of Brea was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with a one-year actual suspension and was ordered to make restitution, take the MPRE and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Nov. 21, 2003.

The State Bar Court found that McNeal committed seven acts of misconduct in two cases.

In the first, he agreed to represent a client in a real property matter the day before he was scheduled to begin an actual suspension from practice; the suspension lasted about six weeks. Nonetheless, the client never heard anything from McNeal despite inquiries for a year and a half.

The case was to be handled from McNeal's Rancho Cucamonga office by an associate who handled civil matters. After the associate left and the case was transferred to another attorney, the issues were researched, but no further work was done. McNeal acknowledged that he did not properly supervise the case and he ultimately closed the Rancho Cucamonga office.

The client's unresolved problem adversely affected her credit report, which shows a bankruptcy that her brother-in-law filed but is attributed to her. Threatened with foreclosure, the client was fearful her house would be sold. She negotiated the payment of a fraudulent loan on the home herself.

The bar court found that McNeal failed to respond to client inquiries, refund a $2,500 unearned fee or cooperate with the bar's investigation.

In the second matter, McNeal practiced law while suspended by representing a client in a criminal case. After the suspension ended and prior to the trial, the prosecution noted that McNeal had not provided a witness list and he also was sanctioned $400 for not being prepared to proceed to trial. An inexperienced attorney who had never selected a jury did so.

Just prior to the trial, McNeal asked the client for additional fees, but the client said he was unable to pay. McNeal encouraged him to plead guilty with an open plea, one without an agreement as to custody time. The bar court found that McNeal never computed the client's exposure, provided accurate information and gave the client the erroneous hope of probation and possible weekends in custody. McNeal told him it was realistic to expect a three-year sentence.

The court found that McNeal pushed the client to enter into the plea agreement. It also found McNeal did not properly prepare for trial.

The client pleaded no contest but later changed his mind. On McNeal's advice, he did not appear at a meeting with his probation officer and was arrested and remained in jail for nearly a year and a half pending a hearing on withdrawing his plea.

A new lawyer filed a motion to withdraw his plea which the court granted, finding that the original plea was not intelligently entered because of McNeal's erroneous advice, lack of preparation and ineffective assistance.

The bar court found that McNeal engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, committed an act of moral turpitude, failed to perform legal services competently and did not cooperate with the bar's investigation.

He has been disciplined four times previously, beginning in 1991.

In mitigation, he has performed pro bono work through the Orange County Bar Foundation.

December 21, 1996:

The probation of PATRICK DAYTON McNEAL [#62102], 47, of Newport Beach was revoked and the previous stay of suspension was lifted Dec. 21, 1996. He was placed on actual suspension for 45 days.

McNeal was suspended and placed on probation in 1994 as a result of misconduct involving one client.

After filing a marital dissolution petition for his client, he failed to return her phone calls for two years, or respond to a request for a status report or to a letter from another attorney requesting documentation on the client's behalf. A member of his staff falsely informed the client her divorce was finalized. In addition, after telling the client that he failed to handle her case competently but would conclude the matter by year's end, he again failed to perform services.

As part of the discipline imposed, McNeal was ordered to file quarterly probation reports as a condition of probation.

McNeal did not receive a copy of either the Supreme Court's discipline order or a probation monitor's reminder until months later and he failed to file his first probation report. The State Bar Court found that because of the confusion, he was not guilty of failing to file his first report.

However, the court said he should have filed subsequent reports but did not.

McNeal was privately reproved in 1991 when he failed to appear at court hearings for his client or inform him of hearing dates. As a result, bench warrants were issued for his client's arrest, and McNeal was fired.

He failed to communicate with his client, competently perform legal service and return unearned fees.

Oklevueha leaders say that not only are these along the same lines of problems the church has been having with mutual associate Matthew Pappas, to which Patrick McNeal became affiliated with Oklevueha, but that the churches investigation is indicating a deep plotted conspiracy between the two (Pappas & McNeal) extending they and their victims into the box of a RICO conviction. "These two obviously deserve some serious conscience and action against them" says Sachem Graves, "But all the people they have been fraudulently fiduciary abused by them in the name and false protections as valid Oklevueha members."

Any and everyone who has had any dealings with Matthew Pappas, Patrick McNeal or any other of the Pappas "legal team" encompassing Oklevueha Native American Church are Implored to not only contact the true church and our awaiting legal counsel, but also to consider other appropriate repatriations including civilly if appropriate to your victimization. Oklevueha's investigation into this mess continues and more updated information is expected to be released as soon as is possible.

Please Note that the above is only Partially the information regarding McNeal's legal discliplinary actions from the state of California, that there is MORE and with more detail that IS Public Record for any interested. Here is a link to the state's specific page regarding him: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/62102

Also note, that the churches investigation actively continues!