Ex-Hector judge falsely claimed to be an attorney

A former Hector Town Justice was found to have never been admitted or registered as an attorney in New York State.On Monday, Penn Yan Police arrested Diane M. Secord of Burdette, NY, a former justice in the Town of Hector, and charged her with 1 count of practicing or appearing as an attorney without being admitted or registered, an unclassified misdemeanor under Section 478 of NYS Judiciary Law.The 56-year-old Secord was arrested and charged after an investigation that occurred at the Yates County Court House on January 22, 2013. On that date, Secord is alleged to have represented herself as an attorney during a Family Court proceeding.After the proceeding, court personnel were unable to locate records verifying Secords’ status as an attorney and subsequently, the matter was referred to the police for further investigation.The result of the investigation revealed that the former Hector Town Justice has never been an attorney and has not been admitted or registered as an attorney in New York State.She was arraigned before Yates County Judge W. Patrick Falvey where she was released. She will reappear at a later date in Penn Yan Village Court.