Lewis
CHARLESTON – A Morgantown attorney accused of shooting and wounding a homeless man at his camp in Clay County will, for now, be allowed to continue practicing law.
The day following his June 13 arrest on charges of wanton endangerment and malicious wounding, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the arm of the state Supreme Court that investigates attorney misconduct, petitioned the Court for the immediate suspension of Hiram C. Lewis IV's license. In its petition, ODC said Lewis' "current incarceration creates a clear disability to represent and protect his clients' interest at this time."
"At this time, [Lewis] poses a substantial threat of irreparable harm to the public at this time."
Along with the suspension, ODC asked the court to appoint an attorney to act as trustee for Lewis' clients. The next day the Court granted ODC's motion, and ordered Chief Clay Circuit Judge Jack Alsop to appoint the trustee.
Later, the Court scheduled a hearing on Aug. 7 to allow Lewis to contest the suspension.
However, the Court on June 27 announced it granted a follow-up motion by ODC to withdraw its petition and cancel the Aug. 7 hearing. The petition came as a result of Lewis' release from the Central Regional Jail in Sutton after posting a $70,000 bond.
Despite withdrawing its motion, ODC said it is still considering bringing disciplinary action against Lewis relating to his actions that day.
Since his arrest, Lewis, who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2004 and U.S. Senate in 2006, has maintained he shot Steven Bogart, a homeless veteran he befriended shortly after moving to his camp in Procious in early June, in self-defense following an altercation between them. At his preliminary hearing on June 19, Lewis testified the altercation was a result of Bogart becoming agitated at Lewis telling him to turn down the music he was playing because it was disturbing a neighbor.
According to Lewis, after the two exchanged words inside the cabin, Lewis ordered Bogart outside to the screened in porch where Bogart was residing. When Bogart kicked in the door, and assaulted him, Lewis said he used a pistol to shoot him in the knee.
Lewis' case is awaiting presentation before the Clay County grand jury.