On Friday, December 13, 2024, the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct recommended a two-year suspension for attorney Jeffrey Dwight Hunter following a series of rule violations. The recommendation arose from a disciplinary hearing held on September 16, 2024, in which Hunter was found to have committed violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jeffrey Dwight Hunter,” with case no. 2023-035.
Hunter’s professional conduct came under scrutiny after a certified complaint was filed on October 26, 2023. The complaint identified multiple instances of misconduct, including a lack of diligence, failure to communicate effectively with clients, and the mishandling of client funds. The complaint followed a history of prior disciplinary actions against Hunter, including a suspension issued in 2009 for failing to register as an attorney.
The panel’s findings indicated that Hunter had engaged in a pattern of misconduct, including dishonesty and the submission of false evidence during the disciplinary process. They emphasized the impact of his actions on vulnerable clients and noted his failure to make restitution for the fees paid by clients for services that were not rendered.
The first case highlighted in the findings was related to Hunter’s representation of James T. Wills II, who was serving a ten-year prison sentence for three counts of rape, first-degree felonies, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. Hunter was retained by Wills’ sister, Kerry Hanawalt, in November 2020, to file a motion for early release. However, Hunter failed to deposit the retainer fee of $2,500 into a client trust account and did not perform the necessary legal work. Throughout the case, he provided misleading information about his efforts and the status of the motion, ultimately failing to file it until well after the deadline for appeal had passed.
In a second matter involving Miles Gibson, who faced serious charges including murder, Hunter was retained by Gibson’s mother in June 2023. He charged a flat fee of $12,500, which he also failed to deposit into a client trust account. Hunter did not appear in court for scheduled hearings and provided false information to the judge regarding his attendance and communications with Gibson. Ultimately, the court disqualified him from representing Gibson after he failed to comply with its orders.
The third case involved Derek C. Shaffer, who was serving a lengthy sentence for multiple serious offenses. Following his retention in 2021, Hunter failed to communicate effectively with Shaffer’s family and did not provide the expected legal assistance. He did not deposit the $2,500 fee paid by Shaffer’s parents into a trust account and delayed taking any significant action on the case.
The panel concluded that Hunter’s actions constituted violations of several professional conduct rules, including those related to competence, diligence, communication, and honesty. The evidence presented at the hearing led the panel to decisively recommend a two-year suspension, with six months of that suspension stayed, contingent on his compliance with the board’s directives.
Hunter’s history of disciplinary actions, coupled with the aggravating factors identified in the complaints, contributed to the panel’s recommendation. They noted that while he cooperated during the disciplinary process, the severity and nature of his violations warranted significant disciplinary action.
The recommendation states:
“Pursuant to Gov. Bar R. V, Section 12, the Board of Professional Conduct considered this matter on December 13, 2024. The Board voted to adopt findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation of the hearing panel and recommends that Respondent, Jeffrey Dwight Hunter, be suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for two years with the final six months stayed on the conditions that he (1) makes restitution within 90 days of the final disciplinary order in this matter to Vicki Deitenbeck and Jack Shaffer in the amount of $2,500 and to Lillian Lancaster in the amount of$ 12,500 and (2) pays the costs of these proceedings.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Hunter is a criminal defense attorney in Pickerington, Ohio. He attended the University of Toledo College of Law. He acquired his law license in Ohio in 1993.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
