A lawyer who has represented several police unions was arrested Friday on charges of groping two female lawyers in his downtown office.
According to the complaint by the Manhattan district attorney's office, Richard A. Dienst, 67, of Queller, Fisher, Dienst, Serrins, Washer & Kool is facing two counts each of forcible touching, third-degree sexual abuse and second-degree harassment based on separate incidents taking place on June 22, 2007, and March 21, 2008.
In last year's incident, Dienst allegedly grabbed and stroked a woman's breast and lower back, then attempted to place her hand on his crotch.
In March, he allegedly forcibly fondled and attempted to place his mouth on a different woman's breasts. He also allegedly engaged in other inappropriate touching, telling a woman she "made an old man's weekend."
Dienst has in the past represented the unions for police detectives, lieutenants, captains and other senior ranks, and has regularly defended their members in several high-profile cases alleging police brutality, corruption or other misconduct.
A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office said Dienst was arraigned by Criminal Court Judge Dena Douglas and released on his own recognizance Friday and the case put over until Aug. 5.
According to The Associated Press, Assistant District Attorney Abigail Kweskin told the judge that a plea deal was in the works.
Dienst's lawyer, Matt Freimuth, refused to talk to reporters as he left court.
The top count of forcible touching is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.
