H. Beatty Chadwick

H. Beatty Chadwick (born 1936) is the current American record holder for the longest time being held in civil contempt of court, having spent fourteen years in prison.[1][2]

In 1992, Chadwick entered divorce proceedings with his wife, Barbara Chadwick. Chadwick claimed he had transferred 2.5 million to a debt in Gibraltar; however, in 1994, after the discovery that he had bought and redeemed three annuity contracts using $869,000 from Gibraltar, the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas ruled his transfers were fraudulent. Chadwick refused to follow the subsequent court orders and was arrested in 1995 on a bench warrant for contempt.[3] During his arrest, he was also convicted of assault for resisting arrest.[4]

He was incarcerated until such time as he could present $2.5 million to the Delaware County Court in Pennsylvania. Chadwick maintained that the money was lost in bad investments and therefore he could not surrender money he did not possess.[5]

In 2005, due to his assault conviction, Chadwick was suspended from the practice of law for five years.[4]

On July 10, 2009, Chadwick was ordered released from prison by Delaware County Judge Joseph Cronin, who determined his continued incarceration had lost its coercive effect and would not result in him surrendering the money.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Lawyer Is Released After Serving Over 14 Years on Civil Contempt Charge". Associated Press. July 11, 2009.
  2. ^ Shepherd, Chuck (2009-01-11). "Week of January 11, 2009". News of the Weird. Archived from the original on 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  3. ^ "H. Beatty Chadwick v. James Janecka, Warden, Delaware County Prison; the District Attorney of the County of Delaware; the Attorney General of the State of Pennsylvania v. Barbara Jean Crowther Chadwick, (intervenor in District Court) Barbara Jean Crowther Chadwick, Appellant, 302 F.3d 107 (3d Cir. 2002)". Justia Lawn. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  4. ^ a b Chadwick (PDF), October 31, 2012
  5. ^ "Man held in O.C. Jail for 6 years, without ever being charged, was wronged, judge says". OC register. 24 January 2020.

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