Court Opinion

ID: 9685847
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:07:28.188169+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:00.192601
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED

               Supreme Court of Kentucky
                               2023-SC-0149-KB

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION                                                  MOVANT

V.                           IN SUPREME COURT

DAVID LEE HARGROVE                                                 RESPONDENT
                             OPINION AND ORDER

      David Lee Hargrove was admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky in

1988. In February 1992, Hargrove became an Assistant Commonwealth’s

Attorney while also maintaining a private civil practice. In 1995, Hargrove was

appointed to be the Commonwealth’s Attorney of Graves County. Hargrove held

this position at the time of his violations. Neither party has appealed the Report

of the Trial Commissioner. Therefore, for the following reasons we defer to the

Trial Commissioner’s recommendation that (1) Hargrove be suspended for one

hundred fifty days from the practice of law; (2) that Hargrove complete trust

account training; and (3) that Hargrove pay the costs of this proceeding.

                       I.    Facts and Procedural Posture

      Hargrove was appointed Commonwealth’s Attorney of Graves County in

1995. He maintained a private civil practice through his tenure in that

position. Shortly after his appointment, he opened an escrow that was meant

to process grant funding as well as receive forfeited monies for the

Commonwealth’s Attorney’s in Graves County. Pursuant to KRS 218A.420,
Hargrove was supposed to receive forfeited funds, deposit said funds into the

official escrow account, and forward said funds to the Prosecutor’s Advisory

Council (PAC). The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office would then be allowed to

use said funds if PAC approved the expenditures.

      Hargrove became disgruntled with this entire process, complaining that

the length of time and effort required for submissions to PAC was burdensome,

as well as complaining PAC did not respond to expenditure requests on a few

occasions. Sometime around 2013 or 2014, after conversing with some of his

counterparts in other counties, Hargrove decided to wholly skip sending funds

to PAC. Instead, he would use funds directly from the Commonwealth’s

Attorney’s escrow account to pay expenses that he deemed to be associated

with his official duties. Notably, Hargrove was the only signatory for the escrow

account.

      This new process was continued for approximately four years. During

this time, Hargrove issued several checks out of the escrow account that had

no memo. Additionally, Hargrove commingled funds from his private practice

with that of the official escrow account; specifically, Hargrove used the escrow

account to process a civil settlement. Despite these violations, however,

Hargrove maintained that he never personally profited from the expenditures.

Hargrove also claimed to be a “poor record keeper,” to explain why some checks

did not have a memo.

      In 2017, the statutory procedure for processing forfeited funds changed

and now required all forfeited funds be sent directly to PAC rather than to an

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escrow account of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. Following this change,

at an unknown time prior to his tenure as Commonwealth’s Attorney

concluded, Hargrove received forfeited funds in the manner he had been for

years and did not send those funds to PAC. PAC viewed Hargrove’s actions as

effectively treating the funds as if they were his own.

       On January 6, 2020, Hargrove was indicted in Franklin Circuit Court for

one count of Abuse of Public Trust, a Class C felony. KRS 522.050(3)(b). On

January 31, 2020, Hargrove entered into an Aflord plea, pursuant to North

Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), pleading guilty to an amended charge of

Official Misconduct in the First Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. KRS 522.020.

Hargrove paid $28, 992.13 to reimburse PAC prior to entering the Alford plea.

On February 6, 2020, Hargrove was sentenced to twelve months in jail,

probated for two years, with the trial court acknowledging full payment of

restitution.

                             II.   Standard of Review

      It is clear both parties “are content with the Trial Commissioner’s report

since neither party has filed an appeal. Therefore, this Court declines to review

the Trial Commissioner’s decision pursuant to SCR 3.370(8).” Kentucky Bar

Association v. Robinson, 412 S.W.3d 184, 187 (Ky. 2013). Instead, we adopt the

Trial Commissioner’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, and

recommendations pursuant to SCR 3.370(10).

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                                  III.   Analysis

      Hargrove advocated for a 90-day suspension from the practice of law

before the Trial Commissioner. Hargrove based his arguments on (1) he has

never had a KBA complaint filed against him; (2) he, by his own admission, is a

“poor record keeper” who failed to properly manage the escrow account; and (3)

three character witnesses testified to Hargrove’s honesty and honorable

reputation amongst the legal community in Graves County. Despite this,

however, the Trial Commissioner stated, “[s]uch sanction would depreciate the

serious duty imposed on attorneys who are privileged to hold public office.”

Hargrove knowingly used forfeited funds from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s

escrow account and used them as expenditures based on his own discretion

and authority contrary to statute. He conversed with other Commonwealth’s

Attorneys who informed him that his procedure was not in compliance with

KRS 218A.420. He negligently issued checks without proper documentation

regarding the details of the expenditure. He also commingled funds from the

escrow account with money from his private civil practice. Hargrove violated

statutory law that he, more so than others, was expected to follow due to his

position of public trust and authority given him by the people of Graves

County. But the evidence does not support a conclusion that Hargrove

calculated a scheme or manipulated the escrow account for the purpose of

enriching himself. Instead, the evidence supports the conclusion that he was

careless. As the Trial Commissioner stated, “[t]he carelessness ultimately cost

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him $28,992.13 for unsubstantiated expenditures from the escrow account

and a misdemeanor criminal conviction.”

      Hargrove is remorseful. He has been cooperative throughout these

proceedings. He has paid restitution in full and is unlikely to repeat this kind

of misconduct since leaving office. But for his own disregard and careless

actions, his record would remain unblemished.

      As concluded by the Trial Commissioner,

      [p]ublic consequences must be brought to bear upon the attorney
      (elected to public office) who violates his duty of stewardship to the
      public in order to protect the public and the bar. The KBA must be
      vigilant in its efforts to hold all attorneys to professional standards
      of conduct without regard to fear or favor. Considering the public
      conviction, the Respondent’s favorable reputation in his
      community, his financial accountability and his remorse, the
      commissioner recommends a one hundred fifty (150) day
      suspension from the practice of law, and a requirement that the
      Respondent complete trust account training offered by the KBA or
      Lawyers Mutual of Kentucky no later than twelve (12) months after
      submission of this Report, and that the Respondent pay the costs
      of this proceeding.

                                 IV.    Conclusion

      Based on the Trial Commissioner’s report, it is ORDERED:

         1. David Lee Hargrove is suspended from the practice of law for one

            hundred fifty (150) days;

         2. Pursuant to SCR 3.390(2), David Lee Hargrove shall, within twenty

            (20) days from the entry of this Opinion and Order, notify all

            clients, in writing, of his inability to represent them; notify, in

            writing, all courts in which he has matters pending of his

            suspension from the practice of law; and furnish copies of all

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           letters of notice to the Office of Bar Counsel. Furthermore, to the

           extent possible, Hargrove shall immediately cancel and cease any

           advertising activities in which he is engaged.

      3. David Lee Hargrove shall complete trust account training offered

           by the KBA or Lawyers Mutual of Kentucky no later than twelve

           (12) months after entry of this Order.

      4. David Lee Hargrove shall pay the costs of this proceedings, totaling

           $3,078.91.

All sitting. VanMeter, C.J., and Bisig, Conley, Keller, and Thompson, JJ.,

concur. Nickell, J., concurs in result only. Lambert, J., dissents without

opinion.

   ENTERED: August 24, 2023

                                          ______________________________________
                                          CHIEF JUSTICE

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