Prominent ex-lawyer Kevin Roache to face court on theft charges

A Geelong ex-lawyer has been hit with charges involving numerous allegations of theft, deception and false documents.

A prominent retired Geelong lawyer will face court over theft and deception charges.

Former Coulter Legal principal lawyer Kevin Edward Roache, 82, has been charged with theft, obtaining property by deception and making false documents.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed he had been bailed to appear before the Geelong Magistrate’s Court on Friday, August 19.

“An 82-year-old Newtown man was charged with eight counts of theft, eight counts of obtain property by deception and eight counts of make false document,” she said.

Kevin Roache

“The offences are alleged to have been committed between 2017 and 2019 in the Geelong area and involve four separate victims.”

The longtime lawyer – who celebrated 50 years of practice in 2020 – was stood down from his role in 2021 amid civil legal action brought by the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner.

Roache voluntarily turned in his licence to practise law during the VCAT proceeding.

At the time he also offered to pay costs for the legal services commissioner, which filed the action in June 2021.

He formally retired from the firm last August.

“After more than 50 years practising law in Victoria, Kevin Roache has decided to retire and spend more time with his family and his many friends,” a statement posted to firm’s website at the time revealed.

“We wish Kevin all the best for his retirement and ­acknowledge his extensive ­career and his decades of service to the local community.”

Speaking on the 50th anniversary of his admission to the legal profession in 2020, Mr Roache said his path to law had been accidental.

“I fell into law accidentally, but I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said at the time.

The prominent ex-lawyer is also known for his work as an ex-director of Bendigo Bank and past affiliations with Committee for Geelong and Anam Cara House.

Mr Roache was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Prominent ex-lawyer Kevin Roache to face court on theft charges