The English Teacher
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney
Caroline Drummond was employed as counsel for Michael Ross Kettles in connection with Tulsa County District Court Case No. CF-2013-4788. Kettles was incarcerated in the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. The pair had an existing relationship, which originated in 1997, when Drummond was Kettles’ English teacher at Skiatook High School. In early 2015, the two reconnected on social media and their relationship became more personal.
According to Drummond, Kettles began requesting access to a cell phone. After multiple requests from Kettles, Drummond finally relented. After obtaining a phone from her carrier, Drummond scheduled a meeting with Kettles at the Tulsa County jail facility. As an attorney, she was permitted to have direct contact visits with clients. During their conference Drummond, covertly supplied Kettles with the cell phone and charger. The phone was placed in Drummond’s legal file and transferred to Kettles by handing him the folder. Drummond also provided Kettles with cigarettes. The illicit items were subsequently discovered by detention officer Jessica Harris on May 15, 2015. During her confiscation of the contraband, Kettles assaulted Officer Harris to prevent her from confiscating the items.
Tulsa County Sheriff employee Corporal Bradley Philpott initiated an investigation to determine the source of the smuggled objects located in Kettles’ cell. Corporal Philpott subpoenaed records from AT&T and had a forensic expert examine the contents of the phone. He also requested an interview with Drummond. After delaying for several weeks, Drummond finally met with Corporal Philpott on June 8, 2015. She confessed to providing Kettles with all of the contraband.
On July 30, 2015, a criminal matter was filed against Drummond in State of Oklahoma v. L. Caroline Drummond, Tulsa County District Court Case No. CF-2015-3921. The district attorney charged her with one felony count of bringing contraband into a penal institution in violation of 57 O.S.Supp. 2012 § 21. On February 23, 2016, Drummond pled guilty to the felony. An order deferring sentencing for two years was filed the following day. Review of the matter is scheduled for February 12, 2018.
The attorney continued to practice law in violation of the interim suspension imposed as a result of the conviction and
while the Rule 7 case was pending in this Court, the OBA filed a second proceeding against Drummond. The new case was brought pursuant to Rule 6 and asserted multiple violations of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct, including, but not limited to: failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness; failing to properly communicate with her client; commingling client funds with her operating account; misappropriating client funds for her own personal use; failing to maintain a client trust account; acting with dishonesty, deceit and misrepresentation; failing to sufficiently cooperate and respond to the OBA grievances; and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The allegations of misconduct in the Rule 6 Complaint occurred prior to Drummond’s guilty plea and deferred sentence.
The court
Drummond’s handling of client funds in this case was deplorable…
We also conclude the record contains clear and convincing evidence Drummond engaged in the unauthorized practice of law following her March 2016 interim suspension. Testimony from TPD Officer Brad Blackwell established that on May 5, 2016, Drummond appeared at the scene of a drug arrest. She presented an OBA card to Officer Blackwell and his partner and informed the pair that she represented one of the detained suspects. She also inquired about the officers’ probable cause for an arrest. When cross examined about the incident, Drummond’s answers were evasive and unbelievable. We find the testimony of Officer Blackwell more trustworthy than Drummond’s self-serving denial. Although she admitted displaying her OBA card, she testified that it was not her intent to hold herself out as an attorney. This explanation is entirely implausible. The evidence was clear and convincing that Drummond’s actions violated ORPC Rule 5.5(b)…
The record before this Court is more than sufficient to establish violations of Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct and the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. We conclude the appropriate discipline for Respondent Drummond is disbarment.
(Mike Frisch)