SEBESTA DISBARRMENT UPHELD

  

A disciplinary board of the State Bar of Texas has affirmed the Bar’s decision to disbar the former prosecutor in the Anthony Graves case.

The agency determined Charles Sebesta withheld evidence and used false testimony to win a capital murder conviction against Graves, who was later exonerated by an independent investigation.

The Dallas Morning News reports that the Board of Disciplinary Appeals made its ruling regarding Sebesta, Monday.

In an extremely rare move, the agency revoked the former Burleson County and Washington County district attorney's law license in June, finding that he had engaged in prosecutorial misconduct in the case of Graves.

Sebesta was cited for his alleged failure to provide items of evidence to the defense during Graves’ trial; presenting false testimony to the jury; making a false statement of material fact to the trial judge; and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

Sebesta appealed the ruling in January, claiming the Bar made its decision due to media and political pressure, but lost that appeal Monday. The board's decision is final.

Graves was convicted and sent to Texas death row for the 1992 slayings of six members of a Somerville family. A federal appeals court reversed his conviction in 2006, following an extensive investigation led by former Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler and current Washington County Sheriff nd former Texas Ranger Otto Hanak.

Graves, who spent 18 years in prison, including 12 on death row, filed a complaint in January of 2014.