Exposing Lawyer Gets Lenient Treatment

The November 2016 online edition of the California Bar Journal reports

LEONARD JULIUS SAWYER [#259068], 37, of Houston, was suspended from the practice of law for 90 days with credit given for the time of his inactive enrollment. He was also ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court. In addition, he was placed on two years’ probation and faces a one-year suspension if he fails to comply with the terms of his disciplinary probation. The order took effect July 9, 2016.

Sawyer’s suspension follows his successful completion of the Alternative Discipline Program. In June 2012, he pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in lewd, indecent or obscene acts on an aircraft. In 2011, he was sitting in the middle seat on a commercial flight when he exposed his erect penis to the woman sitting next to him in the window seat. When she tried to leave her seat, he stood with his penis exposed and asked, “Do you want to climb over me?”

At one point during the flight, Sawyer exited the restroom and asked a flight attendant for some peanuts. Then he exposed himself to her.

Sawyer had one prior record of discipline. In 2011, he was suspended following a misdemeanor conviction for battery that stemmed from two incidents in which he put his hands on the buttocks of a courtroom clerk and a deputy clerk without their consent.

The State Bar Court Hearing Department Decision and Order Sealing Certain Documents is linked here. 

The full disciplinary history of the attorney can be found at this link.  

According to the State Bar

This member is active and may practice law in California.

The incident was reported by the ABA Journal.

It is somewhat notable that such a lenient sanction was the end result of a four-year disciplinary process flowing from a conviction for this misconduct with a prior battery conviction.

Kudos undoubtedly are due to the attorney’s counsel, my old NOBC running buddy Paul Virgo. (Mike Frisch)