LOS ANGELES — The State Bar Court of California recently placed Scott Bunker Hayward, a Santa Ana attorney, on a five-year probation. The Feb. 19 order came as a result of the attorney’s conviction for the assault and false imprisonment of a woman.
The incident began in July 2013 when Hayward wanted to ween himself off of the medication he took for his bipolar disorder. Under the supervision of his psychiatrist, he began taking lower doses of medication. Around October 2013, the attorney began having manic episodes that landed him in psychiatric hospitals on several occasions.
In December 2013, Hayward met a woman and offered to let her stay in his guest room, which she accepted. The next day the two went to the Newport Beach Yacht Club where the attorney was allegedly kicked out due to a verbal altercation. On the drive home, Hayward’s driving became erratic and unsafe, frightening the woman. She requested that they return to the house so she could gather her belongings and leave but he refused and allegedly slammed her head into the passenger side window several times.
Upon returning to the house, the woman quickly gathered her things but the attorney busted through the door and struck her in the head with a coffee mug then held her down on the bed and yelled at her. When he left the room, she called 911.
Hayward’s was sentenced to 136 days in jail, 30 days in a mental health program and three years' probation.
Hayward has been a member of the California State Bar since 1988. He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. The Orange County attorney has one prior record of discipline from January 2011. He was suspended for one year for his misconduct in loan modification matters.