An attorney with an office in La Jolla tried multiple times to hire someone to kill his wife, according to San Diego police.
Steven Liss, 53, was arrested Friday by San Diego police. He was booked on four counts of solicitation to commit murder, false imprisonment and spousal battery.
The La Jolla man was taken into custody after his wife, Karen, and community members came forward with concerns for her safety, authorities said. Investigators said Liss sought the help of others multiple times in recent months to have his wife murdered.
The couple filed for divorce in February. Police said Karen Liss had a restraining order against her husband.
A law practice operated by Steven R. Liss is located on La Jolla Boulevard and apparently specializes in family law and adoptions. According to the state bar association’s Web site, he was admitted to the California bar in September 1987. State bar association records reveal that Liss has been disiplined for failure to perform competent legal services and failure to promptly refund unearned legal fees, but he is currently licensed to practice law in California.
Liss is being held in lieu of $1,060,000 bail. He is due to be arraigned on Tuesday.
