Former president of Washington State Bar Association charged with stealing from Spokane law firms

The former president of the Washington State Bar Association has been charged with stealing from two Spokane-area law firms where she previously worked.

A search warrant issued in June 2017 indicated the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office was investigating Robin Haynes on three counts of second-degree theft. Prosecutors on Monday charged her with those counts as well as one count of first-degree theft and one count of first-degree identity theft.

Haynes, 40, is accused of buying a gym membership and donating to political funds using credit cards from her two former employers, Spokane Valley law firm McNeice Wheeler and Spokane law firm Witherspoon Kelley.

Haynes was not arrested, and her arraignment is set for the end of month, said Mark Gregory, a sheriff’s office spokesman.

She is accused of stealing about $26,000, according to court documents. In one instance, she charged a 10-month booking of a room to one of the law firms after she worked there, according to a KHQ-TV report.

Haynes became the youngest president in the history of the state bar in October 2016. She resigned her post in June 2017 as the accusations became public.

“We recognize Ms. Haynes’ leadership in the organization for more than seven years, including as a New and Young Lawyer at-large board member and WSBA President,” wrote Bill Pickett, president of the Washington State Bar Association. He said the bar association “has fully cooperated with law enforcement authorities in their investigation..”

Haynes’ lawyer could not be reached for comment.