On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a Petition for Disciplinary Action against Respondent Grand Rapids attorney Jesse R. Powell for misconduct involving conviction to four counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree.

The case, titled In Re Petition for Disciplinary Action against Jesse R. Powell was brought by the Office of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

The charges cited Rules 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 1.4(a)(4), 8.1(b), 8.4(b), and 8.4(c) of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.

The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:

The respondent engaged in the misconduct of committing a criminal act of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree and pleaded guilty to the same on September 16, 2022. At the time of his conviction, Respondent was suspended from the practice of law on August 2, 2022, for nonpayment of lawyer registration fees.

The filing states:

“On September 16, 2022, respondent entered a guilty plea to an amended felony charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree (Count One) in relation to named victim S.M.B.; in the guilty plea petition, respondent admitted that he “used force to touch S.M.B.’s genital area[,]” that he “acted with sexual intent[,]” and that his actions constituted a crime without defense.”

The filing continues:

“The complaints alleged that A.R.J. retained respondent in July 2021 regarding a child custody matter and that respondent had sexual contact with her, including sexual intercourse, without her consent, during visits to his law office and visits at her work related to the representation.”

The Petition further alleges:

“Respondent entered a guilty plea to an amended felony charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree (Count Three) in relation to named victim R.A.R.; in the guilty plea petition, respondent admitted that he“used force to touch R.A.R.’s genital area[,]” that he “acted with sexual intent[,]” and that his actions constituted a crime without defense.”

The Petition additionally notes:

“October 2021, R.R.A. retained respondent to represent him in a civil case involving a property line and easement dispute. The representation was terminated in approximately January 2022. R.R.A. paid a retainer fee to respondent at the beginning of the representation, however, respondent failed to perform any work on behalf of R.R.A. in the matter. Despite this, respondent failed to refund any ofR.R.A.’s retainer fee. In addition, respondent failed to communicate with R.R.A.aboutthe matter and failed to return any of R.R.A.’s communications or answer his question).”

With the foregoing facts and discussions, the Director prayed for an order of the Court disbarring respondent or imposing appropriate discipline, award of costs and disbursements pursuant to the Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and for such other, further or different relief as may be just and proper.

As of today, Mr. Powell is listed on the website of Powell Law as a practicing lawyer serving Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He attended the University of Dakota School of Law. Mr. Powell has been licensed in Minnesota. Mr. Powell’s bio can be found on his law firm’s website.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.