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LOS ANGELES — The State Bar Court of California recently suspended Cyrus Leon Batchan, a Sherman Oaks attorney, from the practice of law after the attorney pleaded guilty to distributing narcotics in San Diego.
According to the March 1 decision, between 2004 and 2007, Batchan was knowingly a part of a conspiracy to distribute both oxycodone and hydrocodone. The attorney was caught in his scheme when he allegedly shipped a package of 5,000 and 10,000 hydrocodone pills from San Diego.
In July 2014, Batchan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a Schedule III substance. He was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge on July 14, 2014, to two years' probation. He served no jail time.
Upon learning of the attorney’s plea deal, the California State Bar placed him on an immediate suspension to grant time for Batchan to appeal the ruling. When he did not appeal, the state bar began disciplinary proceedings. No aggravating circumstances were considered, although many mitigating circumstances were considered. The attorney provided seven letters from persons affirming his good character. In addition, Batchan allegedly showed remorse for his actions and entered into a pretrial stipulation with the state bar. Batchan also provided evidence of his community service work with at-risk teens.
Batchan will be suspended from practice for two years and will then be placed on a three-year probation. The attorney also needs to complete ethics school and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam before reinstatement.
The Los Angeles County attorney has been a member of the California State Bar since 2012. He is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and had no prior record of discipline.