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A Vincennes attorney who pleaded guilty to reckless driving and impersonating a public servant has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for an indeterminate period of time.
Justin McGiffen was suspended by the Indiana Supreme Court in an Oct. 12 order for being found guilty of the crime of impersonating a public servant, which is punishable as a felony. The suspension is to continue until further order of the Supreme Court or resolution on any resulting disciplined action.
The Roll of Attorneys does not list McGiffen as working for any law firm or organization.
According to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, McGiffen was charged in Gibson Superior Court with theft, a Class A misdemeanor; operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor; reckless driving, a Class C misdemeanor; speeding, a Class C infraction; unsafe lane movement without a signal, a Class C infraction; and impersonation of a public servant, a Level 6 felony.
McGiffen pleaded guilty to the reckless driving and impersonation charges in exchange for the other charges being dropped.
His sentence of 270 days in the Gibson County Jail was suspended to time served. He was also ordered to serve 270 days of probation plus pay fines, fees and court costs totaling more than $700.
Under his plea agreement, if McGiffen successfully completes his probation, his felony conviction will be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor.
CBS affiliate WANE 15 reported that McGiffen was pulled over in the early morning hours of Jan. 15, after Indiana State Police clocked him traveling 93 mph in a 60 mph zone. McGiffen was reported to have shown an officer a gold badge when he failed field sobriety tests.
Subsequent tests at the Gibson County Jail revealed McGiffen had a BAC of 0.07%.
The case, In the Matter of: Justin B. McGiffen, 22S-DI-303, is his first disciplinary action, according to the Roll of Attorneys.
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