S.E. 2d
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Supreme Court
In the Matter of A. R.
Grant Morehouse, Respondent.
Opinion No. 24781
Submitted March 10, 1998 - Filed April 13, 1998
DISBARRED
C. Russell Keep, III, of Hilton Head Island, for
respondent.
James G. Bogle, Jr., of Columbia, for Disciplinary
Counsel.
PER CURIAM: In this attorney disciplinary matter,
respondent and disciplinary counsel have entered into an agreement under
Rule 21, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. In the agreement, respondent admits
misconduct and consents to be disbarred from the practice of law.
Respondent has requested that the disbarment be made retroactive to the
date of his Interim Suspension, April 3, 1997.1 We accept the agreement
for disbarment, but decline to make the disbarment retroactive.
FACTS
On January 15, 1997, respondent and three co-defendants were
indicted in the United States District Court, District of South Carolina,
Beaufort Division, on 100 counts of wire fraud and money laundering in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 1343, and 1956. Respondent entered into a
plea agreement with the United States Attorney, whereby respondent
agreed to plead guilty to fifty-five counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18
1 In the Matter of Morehouse, S.C. Sup. Ct. Order dated April 3,
1997 (Davis Adv. Sh. No. 10).
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IN THE MATTER OF MOREHOUSE
U.S.C. § 1343. In exchange for the plea, the United States Attorney
agreed to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment against
respondent.
Respondent admits that by his conduct, he has violated the
Rules of Professional Conduct by committing a criminal act which reflects
on his honesty, and engaging in conduct involving moral turpitude,
dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation which was prejudicial to
the administration of justice. Rule 8.4 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), Rule 407,
SCACR. Respondent further admits that he has violated several of the
Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, Rule 413, SCACR, including
Rule 7(a)(1), violation of a Rule of Professional Conduct; Rule 7(a)(4),
conviction of a crime of moral turpitude or a serious crime; Rule 7(a)(5),
conduct tending to pollute the administration of justice or to bring the
courts or legal profession into disrepute or conduct demonstrating an
unfitness to practice law; and Rule 7(a)(6), a violation of the oath of office
taken upon admission to practice law in this state.
In our opinion, respondent's misconduct warrants disbarment
from the practice of law. Accordingly, respondent is disbarred, effective on
the date of this opinion. Within fifteen days of the date of this opinion,
respondent shall file the affidavit required by Rule 30(g), RLDE, Rule 413,
SCACR.
DISBARRED
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