John Hedderman

A paralegal already convicted of a dozen felonies in Southern California for falsely representing himself as an attorney pleaded no contest yesterday to impersonating a real-life lawyer while helping a man withdraw a criminal plea in San Mateo County Superior Court.

The negotiated deal on five counts could send John Hedderman to jail for up to five years and eight months when sentenced May 7 but spares him a jury trial on 13 felonies including several counts of practicing law without a license, grand theft, false impersonation and threats. Those charges carried up to eight years in prison.

Hedderman, 52, was once a licensed attorney in California but resigned in 2001 with charges pending after several incidents of ineligibility to practice law. Last February, he allegedly represented himself as Donald Welch, a real-life Southern California attorney for whom he worked as a paralegal, and took up the case of Ruben Bisceglia who wanted help withdrawing a plea of no contest to possessing stolen property in San Mateo County. Bisceglia reportedly paid Hedderman more than $1,000 in fees for three appearances in San Mateo County Superior Court between March and August 2012.

When a San Mateo County prosecutor attempted to contact the real Welch, authorities learned of the alleged local misrepresentation and that he was convicted of 12 felonies in Orange County for falsely representing himself as an attorney. Hedderman also stipulated to the State Bar of California he committed misconduct in four cases including failure to perform competently; he must also refund unearned fees and communicate with clients and pay court-ordered sanctions or cooperate with the bar's investigation, according to the State Bar of California.

Hedderman remains free from custody on $50,000 bail.

michelle@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 102.