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Michael A. Hecht (WSBA No. 19165, admitted 1989), of Tacoma, was disbarred, effective May 19, 2010, by order of the Washington State Supreme Court following approval of a stipulation. This discipline is based on conduct involving the commission of a crime. Mr. Hecht stipulated to the convictions but did not affirmatively admit the facts and misconduct, and admitted the likelihood that the WSBA could prove by a clear preponderance of evidence sufficient violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct to support disbarment.
On February 27, 2009, Mr. Hecht was charged in Superior Court with threatening to cause bodily injury to another man (JH) by threatening to kill him, which is a class C felony. On August 30, 2008, Mr. Hecht threatened JH based on his understanding that JH had been talking about Mr. Hecht’s sexual conduct with JH when JH was a minor. Mr. Hecht screamed at JH: “Are you talking about me? You better not be talking about me. I’ll kill you.” On February 27, 2009, Mr. Hecht was also charged in Superior Court with patronizing a prostitute, which is a misdemeanor. On October 28, 2009, a jury found Mr. Hecht guilty of threatening to cause bodily injury to JH by threatening to kill him and of patronizing a prostitute.
Mr. Hecht’s conduct violated RPC 8.4(b), prohibiting a lawyer from committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects; and RPC 8.4(i), prohibiting a lawyer from committing any act involving moral turpitude, or any unjustified act of assault or other act which reflects disregard for the rule of law, whether the same be committed in the course of his or her conduct as a lawyer, or otherwise, and whether the same constitutes a felony or misdemeanor or not.
Christine Gray represented the Bar Association. Brett A. Purtzer represented Mr. Hecht.
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