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A Kokomo attorney’s law license will be actively suspended for at least 60 days after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving.
The Indiana Supreme Court imposed the suspension on Craig A. Dechert on Nov. 8, with an effective date of Dec. 20. The suspension is for 365 days, with 60 days actively served and the remainder stayed subject to the completion of at least two years of probation with monitoring by the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
According to the Supreme Court’s order, in May 2022, Dechert was involved in a motor vehicle collision that seriously injured an occupant of the other vehicle.
Dechert unsuccessfully attempted to conceal his intoxication from the officer who responded to the scene of the accident. A blood draw showed a 0.15 alcohol concentration level, almost twice the legal limit.
In June 2023, Dechert pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.
He was sentenced in Hamilton Superior Court to three years suspended to probation.
The requirements of Dechert’s criminal probation include substance abuse evaluation and treatment, remote alcohol monitoring through Soberlink, and abstention from possessing or consuming alcohol. He also has engaged the assistance of JLAP and is currently under a voluntary monitoring agreement.
Dechert and the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission agreed that he violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(b), which prohibits committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the respondent’s trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.
The terms of his disciplinary probation include:
- Refraining from alcohol and all mind-altering substances except as validly prescribed.
- Screening for alcohol at least once per month.
- No violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct during his probation.
- Promptly reporting in writing any violation of his probation to the Disciplinary Commission, including the results of any drug or alcohol test.
Finally, if Dechert violates the terms of his probation, the stay of his suspension may be vacated and the balance of the stayed suspension may be actively served without automatic reinstatement.
Dechert cannot undertake any new legal matters between service of the disciplinary order and the effective date of the suspension, and he must fulfill all the duties of a suspended attorney under Admission and Discipline Rule 23(26).
His probation will remain in effect until it is terminated pursuant to a petition filed under Admission and Discipline Rule 23(16).
The costs of the proceeding are assessed against him.
All justices concurred in In the Matter of: Craig A. Dechert, 23S-DI-276.
According to the Indiana Roll of Attorneys, this is Dechert’s first disciplinary action.
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