Case Title: Disciplinary Counsel v. Williams

Citation: 1997-Ohio-279

Docket Number: 19971749

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1997-12-31T00:00:00Z

Document:
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL v. WILLIAMS. 
[Cite as Disciplinary Counsel v. Williams (1997), ___ Ohio St.3d ___.] 
Attorneys at law — Misconduct — Disbarment — Conviction of theft and 
receiving stolen property — Previous indefinite suspension for conviction 
of grand theft and forgery. 
 
(No. 97-1749 — Submitted October 7, 1997 — Decided December 31, 
1997.) 
 
ON CERTIFIED REPORT by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and 
Discipline of the Supreme Court, No. 96-80. 
 
In May 1995, Barbara J. Graybill, owner of Travel Company of Michigan, 
d.b.a. Omega Tours, discovered that respondent, Kevin Williams, a.k.a. Kevin 
Anthony Williams, of Columbus, Ohio, Attorney Registration No. 0040877, whom 
she had hired as a bookkeeper in July 1994, had embezzled $47,000 from her 
company.  In March 1996, respondent pled guilty and was convicted by the 
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas of felonies of theft and receiving stolen 
property.  Respondent was sentenced to two and one-half years of imprisonment 
and ordered to pay restitution. 
 
Relator, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, filed a three-count complaint 
charging respondent with violations of DR 1-102(A) (3)(engaging in conduct 
involving moral turpitude), 1-102(A)(4) (engaging in conduct involving 
dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), and 1-102(A)(6) (engaging in 
conduct that adversely reflects upon the fitness to practice law).  After respondent 
answered, a panel of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline 
(“board”) heard the matter and found the facts as alleged in relator’s complaint.  
The panel also found that in 1991 respondent was convicted of grand theft and 
forgery while employed by a law firm in Norwalk, Ohio, and sentenced to five 
 
2
years’ probation.  As a result, we indefinitely suspended respondent in 1993 from 
the practice of law.  Disciplinary Counsel v. Williams (1993), 66 Ohio St.3d 41, 
607 N.E.2d 832.  The panel concluded that respondent had violated the 
Disciplinary Rules as charged. 
 
Respondent offered in mitigation that the theft was due to manipulation by 
and demands of his wife and family.  However, respondent had previously told the 
common pleas court in mitigation that he stole the money for the purpose of 
completing a sex change from female to male, which had been only partially 
accomplished.  The panel recommended that respondent be disbarred.  The board 
adopted the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the panel. 
__________________ 
 
Jonathan E. Coughlan, Disciplinary Counsel, and Harald F. Craig III, 
Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, for relator. 
 
Kevin A. Williams, pro se. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam.  In 1993, we indefinitely suspended respondent who, 
diagnosed as suffering from gender dysphoria, explained that the theft from the 
law firm was for the purpose of obtaining funds to complete a sex change by 
phalloplastic surgery, a very expensive procedure.  Respondent attributed the 
criminal conduct at that time to psychological turmoil caused by the inability to 
complete the sex change and low self-esteem as a husband and provider. 
 
Respondent now offers the same reasons in mitigation for the theft from 
Omega Tours in 1995.  As Disciplinary Counsel noted to the panel, respondent 
was given a second chance in 1991 and before completing the probation period 
again committed virtually the same crime for the same reasons.  Respondent has 
 
3
clearly violated the Disciplinary Rules as charged in the complaint.  Respondent is 
hereby disbarred from the practice of law in Ohio.  Costs taxed to respondent. 
Judgment accordingly. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur.