SEBESTA FIGHTING DISBARMENT

  

The Former District Attorney who was disbarred for misconduct in the Anthony Graves case is appealing the State Bar ruling.

Charles Sebesta has confirmed he is appealing his disbarment, claiming the Bar made its ruling due to media and political pressure.

The State Bar’s Board of Disciplinary Appeals will hear Sebesta’s appeal at a Jan. 29 hearing in Austin.

Sebesta was the chief prosecutor in the murder trial of Graves in 1994, when he was found guilty and sentenced to death for the 1992slayings of six members of a Somerville family.

Graves spent 18 years behind bars – more than 12 years on death row, before being released in 2010 after an investigation found no evidence of his involvement in the crimes.

A State Bar panel disbarred Sebesta in June of last year, citing 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.

The appeal asks the Board of Disciplinary Appeals “to determine how far the State Bar may go in order to secure a judgment against an attorney in response to political and media pressure.