Audio By Carbonatix
Independent Journalism in Miami Needs You
We need to raise $10,000 by August 9 to support the reporting our community depends on. Reader support keeps us independent and is playing a larger role in funding local journalism and shaping what comes next. If you believe independent local journalism matters, make a contribution today.
Richard Sharpstein, one of Miami’s most prominent defense attorneys, was found dead at his Miami Beach condo Tuesday morning.
Sharpstein, who worked for Akerman Senterfitt, had handled some of Miami Dade County’s most high profile cases in a career that spanned four decades. He once represented disgraced Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Gersten, who fled to Australia after claims he had been receiving a blow job in a crack house when his Mercedes was stolen.
And he represented Garrett Wittels, the star FIU baseball player who just a few years ago came within a hair of breaking Robin Ventura’s NCAA hitting streak record.
Sharpstein, who graduated from Tulane University, had worked as a state prosecutor in Miami and taught at several universities, including St. Thomas.
He always seemed to find himself at the center of high profile cases. Last year, he represented Peter Rosello, the 20-year-old son of Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Echevarria, who was accused in a video attack of a sleeping homeless man.
In 2010, he represented cops who were cleared of trying to frame a drug dealing convict, and called the win “A triumph for truth, justice and the American way,” according to the Sun-Sentinel.
Sharpstein recently completed a divorce from his wife, attorney Janice Sharpstein.
Back in 2003, Miami New Times named him best lawyer, announcing, “this is the guy who will put on a show that just might distract the jury enough to get you off.”
