Robert Gavin reports for the Albany Times Union that Albany County Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp is getting a paid week off in early August as punishment for secretly working on appeals cases for high-profile Albany defense attorney Cheryl Coleman. A Times Union story about the extra freelance employment led District Attorney David Soares to impose the taxpayer-funded sanction against Sharp. The 33-year-old Assistant District Attorney makes $112,164 a year as bureau chief of the General Felony Unit. "Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp was placed on paid leave amid an ongoing inquiry," Cecilia Walsh, a spokeswoman for Soares, said in an email Aug. 8. "We will not be providing further details as this matter is ongoing." Lawyer Matthew Hug is trying to get a verdict thrown out because of the conflict-of-interest. Jordan Prusinski of Latham's conviction in April for attempted murder is being challenged. "The selection of ADA Sharp to provide appellate services to attorney Coleman's firm is alarming in and of itself," Hug wrote to the judge on July 15. "There are dozens of local lawyers in the criminal defense bar that provide appellate services, many of whom would undoubtedly accept an offer to assist in the writing of appeals. But, instead of choosing any of these available attorneys, attorney Coleman decided to secretly retain ADA Sharp." Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.