Felony Stalking Draws Disbarment

A conviction for stalking and related offenses has led to the disbarment of an attorney by the Council of the North Carolina State Bar

Based on the aftidavit, the Council finds that, on November 3, 2014, Karla W. Simon pled guilty to and was convicted on the felony charge of Stalking in Cambridge District Court, Cambridge, Massachusetts. On December 18,2014, based upon Karla W. Simon’s admission to suflkient facts, Simon was found guilty on 29 counts of misdemeanor Violation of Harassment Prevention Order and nine counts felony Intimidate Witness/Juror/Police/Court OtIicial in Cambridge District Court, Cambridge Massachusetts. This conduct constitutes grounds for discipline in that Simon was convicted of a criminal offense showing professional unfitness as defined by Rule .0103(17) of the State Bar Discipline and Disability Rules and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-28 (b). An Order oflnterim Suspension was entered by the Chair of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission on January 8, 2016 based on these convictions.

The attorney has been suspended on an interim basis since November 2015 and had consented to the sanction.  (Mike Frisch)