The Fourth District Court of Appeal has allowed a defense attorney to withdraw from a Palm Beach County felony criminal case after it came to light that his attorney fees might have been paid with stolen money, raising legal ethics questions and exposing the lawyer to liability.

Defendant Melissa Delacruz was charged in 2015 with stealing more than $100,000 from her employer, The Garden Depot in Jupiter, by using business credit cards and accounts for unauthorized personal expenses.