Public Defender Under Investigation

{West Virginia}...Kanawha County Public Defender Steven James Conifer is under investigation for prostitution. The Charleston Police Department executed a search warrant on Conifer after April Bird, an Asbury Park, New Jersey detective, contacted them on June 7th saying Confier had been reportedly exchanging instant messages with Windsor Leveille of New Jersey about providing young boys for sexual services. Bird says Conifer sent Leveille a non-explicit photo. The Asbury Police Department subpoenaed records from AOL and Suddenlink Communications which led officers to Conifer and his apartment at 1424 Kanawha Boulevard. Detective Cpl. D.S. Paxton with the Charleston Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division led the search of Conifer’s apartment Tuesday and seized CDs, DVDs, disks, hard drives, a cell phone, lap top and routers.