Molestation defendant
fires lawyer facing discipline

Jerry Thouvenell, charged in 2017 with 12 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with children and one count of battery, has fired his lawyer after his trial already has been delayed 10 times.

His alleged crimes occurred from Jan. 1, 2012, to Aug. 8, 2016.

Soon after he was charged, Thouvenell hired Wichita lawyer David P. Leon to defend him.

Leon faces a hearing Tuesday before the state supreme court after the state’s attorney disciplinary board investigated four complaints against him. The board unanimously recommended his license be suspended. A disciplinary administrator recommended disbarment.

Complaints against Leon included repeatedly delaying trials, mingling clients’ money with his own instead of holding it in a different account, and not staying in communication with clients.

Thouvenell is scheduled for trial Nov. 3. Whether firing Leon will cause further delays remains to be seen.

On June 23, district judge Mike Powers appointed Newton lawyer Kevin Loeffler to assist in defending Thouvenell.