Your motivation and drive are inspiring to witness - thanks for sharing your plan for your REI career.Lots of good advice already shared in the comments here, so I'll just say it all comes down to the life you want to have.

There could be accusations of theft that you will have to deal with.

Id question the ethics of someone who uses the accusation of someone being unethical as a red herring. 

Like accusing me of being patronizing and sarcastic (though in text conversations), when I was never anything of the sort. 

Rather, they have witnesses who must testify under oath based on their recollection of events.

Reason they gave is they are entering the witness protection program in a divorce case and moved to an undisclosed location.  

Unless it's a really , really bad accusation, I don't think your friend will need an attorney. 

In Mesa AZ  - you can kind of see ho wit works athttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/600-phoenix-r...

He accused us not maintained the property (he should say maintain his property).

Unless you personally witnessed the damage being done, I'd stay out of the middle of it.