LOS ANGELES – The State Bar Court of California recently placed Ray Shannon Pool, a Fresno attorney, on an interim suspension after his criminal conviction in a matter involving the sexual exploitation of minors.
According to the January 6 decision, Pool pleaded guilty to “possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors,” in February 2013. The ruling on the disciplinary case does not offer more details on the attorney’s conviction.
Though the California State Bar placed Pool on an interim suspension to provide adequate time for the attorney to appeal the ruling, a decision is currently pending for his disbarment. Because no appeal was made during the past three years, the state bar plans to move ahead with the sentence.
He will not be entitled to a hearing in this matter because his actions display moral turpitude and a disregard for the law and societal norms. The attorney has not responded to the state bar’s attempts to contact him.
During Pool’s interim suspension, he is barred from accepting any new clients. The attorney will need to inform all current clients and opposing counsel of his status, after which a signed affidavit must be submitted to the state bar’s Office of Probation proving the task had been completed. Pool will also be responsible for all court costs associated with the matter.
The 47-year-old attorney was admitted to the California State Bar in 2003. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and obtained his law degree from the New York University School of Law. Prior to the suspension order, the attorney had no record of discipline. He was, however, ruled inactive on two occasions by the California State Bar for failing to pay his membership dues and for not complying with the minimum continuing legal education requirements of his license.