The Minnesota man helping Winneshiek County Protectors draft a proposed frac sand mining ordinance is convicted of impersonating an attorney

A Minnesota newspaper is reporting that the man who has been helping Winneshiek County Protectors draft a proposed frac sand mining ordinance has been convicted of practicing law without a valid Minnesota license.

71-year-old David Welford Williams Jr. of Preston, Minnesota was charged in May with "Unauthorized Practice of Law," according to the Rochester Post-Bulletin.  A search of Fillmore County District Court records by decorahnews.com reveals that Willaims was sentenced December 17th in Fillmore County District Court to 90 days in jail.  The sentence was stayed and Williams was placed on probation for a year and was ordered not to use the words "Attorney at Law" in practice, letterhead or correspondence, according to court documents.  He also was ordered to pay a $390 fine, according to court records.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin reports a check of Williams' history confirms he was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1968 but lists his 1983 status as "resigned with charges pending." He's no longer allowed to practice law in California, according to the state's website.

In appearances in Winneshiek County on the frac sand mining issue, Williams described himself as a "retired attorney" who was involved in drafting Fillmore County's frac sand mining ordinance.