Bugged

The Kentucky Supreme Court accepted a 30-day consent suspension for misconduct in a custody matter

Chewning was retained by Cherie Sherill to represent her in seeking to obtain full custody of her minor granddaughter. The minor’s foster parents, Will and Tasha Uland, were appointed guardians before Sherill was granted full custody. After the custody determination, the Ulands were given limited visitation with the child which ultimately led to further litigation.

Prior to a September 9, 2015, visitation, Sherill obtained a voice activated recording device from Chewning’s office and sewed it into the waistband of the child’s clothing. Chewning later used information from conversations recorded by the device in court proceedings to gain an advantage for his client. On January 6, 2017, Chewning was indicted on three Class D felonies related to the incident. Later that year, he entered a negotiated guilty plea to one count of Criminal Attempt to Commit Eavesdropping, a Class A misdemeanor, and was fined $500.00.

The attorney conceded that he had violated ethical rules

Based on these authorities, Chewning’s lack of a prior disciplinary record, and his cooperative nature throughout the proceedings, the KBA concluded a thirty-day suspension, probated for two years with conditions was the appropriate discipline in this matter. After reviewing the allegations, Chewning’s previous disciplinary record, and the cases cited by the KBA, this Court concludes the discipline proposed by Chewning, and agreed to by the KBA, is appropriate.

Kentucky New Era covered the criminal charges. (Mike Frisch)