“Regular Customer” Reprimanded

A reprimand was imposed by a panel of the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board

The respondent and the Grievance Administrator filed a stipulation for a consent order of discipline, in accordance with MCR 9.115(F)(5), which was approved by the Attorney Grievance Commission and accepted by the hearing panel. The stipulation contained respondent’s admission that he was convicted in a matter titled People of the State of Michigan v Steven Dunnings, 54-A District Court Case No. 16-01137 -SM, of engaging the service of a prostitute, a misdemeanor. Based on respondent’s conviction and his admission in the Stipulation for Consent Order of Reprimand, it was established that respondent engaged in conduct that violated the criminal laws of the State of Michigan, in violation of MCR 9.104(5).

The Lansing State Journal reported on the crime

Steven Dunnings, the younger brother of former Ingham County prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to engaging in the services of a prostitute, prosecutors said.

Steven Dunnings was charged in March with two misdemeanor counts as part of the same investigation that led to Stuart Dunnings being charged with 15 prostitution-related charges, including a 20-year felony…

During a March news conference announcing the charges, Attorney General Bill Schuette said Stuart Dunnings paid for sex hundreds of times over several years. Court records that led to charges against the Dunnings brothers indicate Steven Dunnings paid two women for sex, one of which “considered him a regular customer.”

Stuart Dunnings, who served nearly 20 years as Ingham County prosecutor, resigned from office in July. During his plea hearing earlier this month, he admitted to offering a woman who wasn’t a prostitute payment for sex, which was the factual basis of the felony charge.

(Mike Frisch)