A Hamilton County attorney who was federally indicted in connection with child pornography and animal crushing videos has been temporarily suspended from practicing law.
Patrick Bryant Hawley allegedly poses a threat of substantial harm to the public, the Board of Professional Responsibility announced in a Wednesday statement.
The statement does not detail why the board believes he poses a threat, but the suspension came less than a week after Hawley entered no plea to seven counts in Chattanooga’s federal court.
Hawley is charged with enticing a 14-year-old to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography and distributing that content, transporting and receiving child pornography, two counts of coercion or enticement of a female under 18 and one count of depiction of animal cruelty, the indictment shows.
He is in federal custody, so he could not be contacted for comment. His attorney, Lee Davis, did not respond to a voicemail left at his law office.
Hawley must immediately stop accepting new cases, and he must stop representing any existing clients by Dec. 26, the statement said.
He also cannot use any indication of lawyers, legal assistants or law clerks or maintain a presence where law is practiced.
“Mr. Hawley is required to deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they are entitled,” the statement said.
His suspension remains in effect until it is dismissed or modified by the Tennessee Supreme Court, and he can request that for good cause.
Hawley, who used the internet screen name “ULTIMATEDADBOD,” was allegedly found in online chat rooms in which he engaged with disturbing child pornography videos and unknowingly engaged in conversations about sexual acts with young children with undercover agents, the statement of probable cause said.
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As recently as a few weeks ago, he allegedly discussed sexually explicit activities captured on video of his ex-girlfriend crushing rats that died during the process. He is also accused of grooming and sexting with a 14-year-old girl.
“I love showing it off to pedophiles online,” he allegedly messaged the girl, according to the statement.
Hawley has no Hamilton County criminal record, and he has no record of public discipline as an attorney, according to the Board of Professional Responsibility.
Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.