Former Marion County prosecutor Carl Brizzi suspended

Former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has been suspended from practicing law for 30 days after a disciplinary commission found that he "engaged in professional misconduct" during his time as prosecutor.

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission handed down the order Wednesday, almost a year after a complaint was filed accusing Brizzi of a "pattern of misconduct in his official capacity as the elected prosecutor."

The suspension is related to a business relationship he had with a criminal defense attorney. It is the latest in a number of legal problems Brizzi has faced over the years, including a federal investigation into a deal his office made when he was prosecutor. That deal allowed the daughter of a campaign contributor to be released from prison early.

This week's disciplinary finding is focused on Brizzi's relationship with defense attorney Paul Page, who in 2013 was sentenced to probation in an unrelated wire fraud case.

Brizzi and Page had a joint real estate venture that Brizzi failed to disclose in a 2008 statement of economic interest.

The hearing officer evaluating the complaint found the failure to be inadvertent. However, in 2009, Brizzi gave special treatment to one of Page's clients by negotiating a better plea deal, the hearing officer found.

The deputy prosecutors working under Brizzi worked out an agreement that stipulated the client would admit to a class C felony and forfeit $17,550 in cash for several drug charges he faced. Page appealed to Brizzi, who then asked the deputy prosecutors to return some of the cash and allow Page to plead guilty to a lesser class D felony, according to the disciplinary order.

"Intervention of this nature was highly unusual," the order reads. "The chief deputy indicated he had never previously been given such an instruction by [Brizzi] in a narcotics case, and both deputies knew of no reason to reduce the lead charge to a class D felony or to return any of the seized funds."

IndyStar reached out to Brizzi for comment.

When the complaint was first filed in May, Brizzi told IndyStar he was previously cleared of these charges.

"I don't understand the timing," said Brizzi at the time, noting the alleged misconduct happened eight years ago. "I'm at a bit of a disadvantage since it happened in 2008. I feel like I've lived another whole life since then."

Brizzi now owns his own practice in Fishers. His suspension will begin  May 1, and his license to practice law will be reinstated at the end of May.

Brizzi has previously been disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court for making was is deemed inappropriate comments in regard to criminal cases when he was prosecutor. He was fined $2,500 in court and investigative costs.

IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.