Opinion ID: 1256160
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Disposition of Disciplinary Proceeding

Text: As a result of these transgressions, the investigative panel of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board issued a Statement of Charges against Mr. Wheaton on April 16, 2003. Upon joint motion by Disciplinary Counsel and Mr. Wheaton, certain factual allegations in the Statement of Charges were stipulated, and the Hearing Panel Subcommittee entered an order accepting the stipulations. The Board heard evidence on September 8 and 9, 2003, including evidence of both mitigating and aggravating factors. Based upon such evidence, the Board found that Mr. Wheaton's remorse, as expressed during the hearing, together with his inexperience in the practice of law, were insufficient mitigating factors to outweigh the five-year span of misconduct, which included failure to properly account for clients' funds and failure to deal honestly with clients, the courts, and other counsel. Therefore, the Board found that Mr. Wheaton committed thirty-one violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and recommended that Mr. Wheaton's law license be annulled. [30]