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P:\CLEPUB\Books\Disciplinary Board Reporter ... - Oregon State Bar

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Cite as In re Tuttle, 19 DB Rptr 216 (2005)<br />

DATED this 28th day of June 2005.<br />

/s/ Jill A. Tanner<br />

Jill A. Tanner, Region 6<br />

Disciplinary <strong>Board</strong> Chairperson<br />

/s/ Michael C. Zusman<br />

Michael C. Zusman<br />

<strong>State</strong> Disciplinary <strong>Board</strong> Chairperson<br />

OPINION OF THE TRIAL PANEL<br />

This matter came before a duly constituted trial panel of the Disciplinary<br />

<strong>Board</strong> of the <strong>Oregon</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> on March 31, 2005, at the <strong>Oregon</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> Center<br />

in Lake Oswego, <strong>Oregon</strong>. The panel consisted of Irene Bustillos Taylor, Esq., Trial<br />

Panel Chairperson; W. Brad Jonasson, Esq., Trial Panel Member; and Marvin Hines,<br />

Public Panel Member. The Accused was represented by Christopher Hardman, Esq.<br />

Jane Angus, Disciplinary Counsel, and Robert A. Heard, Esq. represented the <strong>Bar</strong>.<br />

FINDINGS OF FACT<br />

Stephanie J. Tuttle (hereinafter “the Accused”) has been an <strong>Oregon</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>Bar</strong><br />

member since 1993, and has been employed exclusively as a public prosecutor by the<br />

Marion County District Attorney’s office. During all relevant times, the Accused<br />

administered a very high caseload of complex and difficult cases. The Accused is<br />

held in the highest regard by the bench, <strong>Bar</strong>, and employer.<br />

In the summer of 2002, the Accused was assigned the prosecution of Sherry<br />

Lynn Ricks (hereinafter “Ricks”) in the Marion County Circuit Court. As the deputy<br />

responsible for prosecuting the Ricks case, the Accused took the case to the grand<br />

jury, and obtained an indictment charging Ricks with three counts of Compelling<br />

Prostitution and three counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor. The<br />

victim in all six counts was a minor, Megan Payne (hereinafter “Payne”). Trial was<br />

set for the Ricks case on March 17, 2003.<br />

On or about March 1, 2003, the Accused was assigned as the trial deputy to<br />

<strong>State</strong> v. Kenneth L. Ford, Marion County Circuit Court Case No. 02C48263. Ford<br />

was charged with one count each of Rape in the First Degree, Delivery of a<br />

Controlled Substance to a Minor, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Child Neglect<br />

in the First Degree, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, and Attempted Compelling<br />

Prostitution. Ford was represented by Salem lawyer Paul Ferder (hereinafter<br />

“Ferder”). The indictment alleged Payne as the victim in three of the six charges,<br />

namely the Rape, Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor, and the Attempted<br />

Compelling Prostitution charges.<br />

217

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