High court upholds lawyer’s suspension

Friday, July 16, 2004 | 8:15 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the suspension of Las Vegas attorney Kenneth L. Hall, based on his conviction of a gross misdemeanor count of child abuse and neglect.

The court also ordered the temporary suspension of Las Vegas lawyer Andrew Jones, who is facing 18 counts of forgery and theft.

Hall pleaded guilty in 2001 to the child abuse count and received probation of two years.

The charge stemmed from a 1992 incident in which he had sex in his office with a woman in the direct view of the woman's 3-year-old daughter. Hall videotaped the encounter, unknown to the woman.

The court upheld the recommendation of the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board of the State Bar for a 40-day suspension with credit for the 45 days he already served under a temporary suspension. The court also agreed Hall must pay the cost of the disciplinary proceedings.

In the case of Andrew Jones, the disciplinary board has been unable to serve him with a complaint filed by attorney Keith Lyons that accuses Jones of professional misconduct.

Jones was due in Justice Court last month but failed to appear. A warrant for his arrest was issued and bail set at $54,000. The criminal charge stems from his association with attorney G. Dallas Horton.

The disciplinary board said it tried four times to contact Jones to answer the complaint but failed. An attempt to find him at home failed because he had been evicted from his apartment for not paying rent.

The board said it found papers scattered in the apartment and added that Jones has apparently abandoned his practice without telling his clients or safekeeping their files.

The Supreme Court said the facts "demonstrate that Jones poses a substantial threat of serious harm and his immediate temporary suspension is warranted."