Former Deputy Prosecutor Gets Six-Month Suspension For Felony Drunk Driving Conviction

A spokesman and deputy prosecutor for former Marion Co. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi received a six-month suspension by the Indiana Supreme Court from the practice of law for his recent felony drunk driving conviction in Hamilton County. Mario Massillamany pleaded guilty on April 9, 2014 to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, his third such conviction, which was elevated to a felony due to a prior OWI conviction within the past five years.

According to the Supreme Court's Order, Massillamany promptly self-reported his arrest last July. In 2010, Massillamany received a public reprimand from the Supreme Court after he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering another person's life, a Class A misdemeanor. Massillamany had a prior conviction for OWI dating back to 2000. The Court's Order also says that Massillamany had neglected to report a prior illegal consumption arrest in 1996 on his initial application to practice law in Indiana or in his renewed application. Massillamany will be reinstated following his six-month suspension as long as he complies with the terms of his probation.

The order found that Massillamany violated the following rules of professional conduct:

8.1(a): Knowingly making a false statement of material fact to the Board of Law Examiners in connection with a bar admission application.

8.1(b): Failure to disclose relevant facts to the Board of Law Examiners.

8.4(b): Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on Respondent's trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.

Hat tip to Indiana Law Blog.