The former Cravath, Swaine & Moore tax attorney accused of paying two underage sisters for sex over the course of five years cannot afford his current lawyer and may seek another.

The attorney who represented James Colliton at his arraignment last week, Alan Abramson, said yesterday he might drop his client in the near future.

When Justice Charles Solomon of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan questioned him, Mr. Abramson confirmed that Mr. Colliton’s ability to pay was at issue. Mr. Abramson said Mr. Colliton did not intend to request a public defender.

The Daily News reported that Mr. Colliton, 41, had made $500,000 a year as a tax attorney for the law firm. Mr. Abramson’s law partner, Glenn Morak, he disputes that figure, saying Mr. Colliton made less. A spokesman for the law firm declined to comment.

Mr. Colliton appeared disoriented during a brief appearance in court yesterday, five days after the brief manhunt for him ended. His eyes blinking rapidly, Mr. Colliton sat without saying a word.

Mr. Abramson did not request bail for Mr. Colliton, although he had previously indicated he would do so. Mr. Colliton will next appear in court tomorrow. However, he will not appear before Justice Solomon, who said yesterday that an administrative mistake had sent the defendant to his courtroom.

In addition to charges of rape and paying a prostitute, the former tax attorney is accused of paying the mother of the girls to stay quiet about his sexual involvement with her children.

Law enforcement officials have said that the younger of the two sisters was 13 two years ago when she moved into the Midtown apartment Mr. Colliton kept for use during the workweek. Mr. Colliton is from Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Mr. Morak, declined to say how much the firm planned to charge Mr.Colliton, but he did say that an able defense in this case would require significant manpower and hours.

“This case needs investigations, around the clock work,” Mr. Morak said. “The investigation will show he’s not guilty of all that he is accused.”