Case Title: In the Matter of David E. Belding

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: south-carolina

Court: South Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 1998-12-14T00:00:00Z

Document:
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Supreme Court In the Matter of David E. Belding, Respondent. Opinion No. 24866 Submitted November 23, 1998 - Filed December 14, DEFINITE SUSPENSION David E. Belding, of Columbia, pro se. Senior Assistant Attorney General James G. Bogle, Jr., Assistant Deputy Attorney General J. Emory Smith, Jr., and Henry B. Richardson, Jr., all of Columbia, for the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel. PER CURIAM: In this attorney disciplinary matter, respondent and Disciplinary Counsel have entered into an agreement under Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR., In the agreement, respondent admits misconduct and consents to be suspended from the practice of law for ninety days, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension. We accept the agreement. Respondent was convicted of five counts of failure to make and file a South Carolina Income Tax return in violation of S.C. Code Ann. § 12-54-40(b)(6)(c) (Supp. 1997). Respondent was sentenced to concurent sentences of one year on each count, suspended upon the payment of a $500.00 fine. The failure to file a tax return is a serious crime as set forth in Rule 2(z), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. By his conduct, respondent has violated Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule'407, SCACR, p.25 IN THE MATTER OF BELDING and Rule 7(a)(4), RLDE, by committing a serious crime that reflects adversely upon his honesty, trustworthiness and fitness as a lawyer and has violated Rule 7(a)(5) and (6), RLDE, by engaging in conduct tending to bring the courts or legal profession into disrepute and violating the oath of office he took upon admission to the practice of law in this State. In our opinion, respondent's misconduct warrants a definite suspension from the practice of law for ninety days. Accordingly, respondent is suspended for ninety days, retroactive to September 28, 1998, the date of his interim suspension. Within fifteen days of the date of this opinion, respondent shall file an affidavit with the Clerk of Court showing that he has complied with Rule 30, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. DEFINITE SUSPENSION. p.26