In re Patterson, No. 02-BG-498
| Decision Date | 09 October 2003 |
| Docket Number | No. 02-BG-1130., No. 02-BG-498 |
| Citation | 833 A.2d 493 |
| Parties | In re Robert Brown PATTERSON, Respondent. A Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. |
| Court | D.C. Court of Appeals |
Before FARRELL and WASHINGTON, Associate Judges, and KING, Senior Judge.
On May 9, 2002, respondent pleaded guilty to the felony of stealing property in excess of $1,000 belonging to the United States Government, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. The matter is before this court on the recommendation of the Board on Professional Responsibility that respondent be disbarred pursuant to D.C.Code § 11-2503(a) (2001) ().
Disbarment for conviction of an offense reached by § 11-2503(a) — i.e., involving moral turpitude — is mandatory. See In re Spiridon, 755 A.2d 463, 466 (D.C.2000)
. Respondent's executed plea agreement is proof of his criminal conviction. D.C. Bar R. XI, § 10(f). "[A] valid guilty plea acts as a conviction of the crime charged, as well as an admission of all the material facts alleged by the government." In re Untalan, 619 A.2d 978, 981 (D.C.1993); see also In re Shillaire, 549 A.2d 336, 343 (D.C.1988). Having stolen property from the United States worth more than $1,000, appellant was convicted of felony theft, a crime this court has previously determined to involve moral turpitude per se. See In re Caplan, 691 A.2d 1152 (D.C.1997) (grand theft; California statute); In re Sluys, 632 A.2d 734 (D.C.1993) (grand larceny; New York statute); In re Slater, 627 A.2d 508 (D.C.1993) (grand larceny; Virginia statute); In re Hopmayer, 602 A.2d 655 (D.C.1992) (theft; New Jersey statute); In re Solerwitz, 601 A.2d 1083 (D.C.1992) (grand larceny; New York statute).
Accordingly, respondent is hereby disbarred pursuant to § 11-2503(a).1 For purposes of reinstatement, the period of disbarment shall not be deemed to commence until respondent files the affidavit required by D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g).
So ordered.
1. We dismiss as moot the pending reciprocal matter based on a public reprimand respondent received in Virginia for misconduct in practicing law after his license was suspended and dishonestly advising a judge that he was unaware of the suspension. See In re Dechowitz, 741 A.2d 1061 (D.C.1999)
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