A disbarred Hamilton County attorney, who represented ex-Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, pleaded guilty to forging a judge’s signature on court documents, according to Rhea County Circuit Court records.
Alan Christopher Norton, 50, pleaded guilty Oct. 10 to three counts of forgery, according to an order. In accordance with his plea deal, Norton had three counts of criminal simulation dismissed.
Norton entered a judicial diversion agreement, the judgment shows, and he was sentenced to two years of supervised probation.
The judicial diversion element means if Norton successfully completes his probation, the case will be dismissed and removed from his record.
The forgeries were so out of character for Norton, his attorney, McCracken Poston said, adding Norton is a talented attorney and well-liked among the legal community.