Lawyer disbarred after conviction revealed
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court has disbarred a Clark County lawyer who failed to inform Nevada officials that he had been convicted in California on charges of annoying a minor.
Justices unanimously disbarred Michael Woodbury who did notify the State Bar of Nevada that he had given up his license to practice law in California in 2006 over the charges.
He was convicted in January 2006 on a misdemeanor charge of child annoyance. Over a period of several years, Woodbury developed a friendship with a 14-year-old boy who attended his church according to documents the Nevada bar obtained from California.
The boy often would sleep in his bed and on at least 15 occasions Woodbury had him undress in front of him, the court stated in its decision. On three occasions Woodbury inappropriately touched the boy, according to the court.
For the crime, Woodbury served 120 days in a Sacramento jail. After the Nevada bar learned of his conviction, Woodbury expressed hope that he would not be disbarred. But he failed to respond to Supreme Court and State Bar of Nevada requests to file documents on why he should not be disciplined and failed to show up for a disciplinary hearing. Before the hearing, he had faxed a letter saying he would not attend and asked for leniency.
The 7-0 decision by the court was made Thursday.