Nash
Former Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash faces an attorney discipline complaint that jeopardizes his professional license to practice law.
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission filed a formal complaint against Nash on Thursday over a dispute with a neighbor that previously led to a criminal case. The dispute in May of 2022, in which Nash was charged with nine offenses including two felonies, ultimately led him to plead guilty last year to two misdemeanors. In March of last year, Nash was sentenced to a total of 360 days, suspended to probation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the charges related to an incident when Nash angrily approached his neighbor, Scott Salazar-Stuck, to tell him his dogs were dangerous, and if Salazar-Stuck didn’t keep the canines on a leash, he’d “better get a lawyer.” Salazar-Stuck claimed Nash had earlier fired a BB gun toward his house, according to the affidavit.
Some time after Nash left, Salazar-Stuck found a small animal collar in his own yard with Nash’s phone number on it that he showed to him, the court document states.
When Salazar-Stuck asked why the collar was on his property, Nash said he didn’t know and insisted that his neighbor give him back the collar, the affidavit states. When Salazar-Stuck asked Nash if they could discuss the matter like adults, the affidavit indicates Nash’s rhetoric became increasingly angry, according to court documents.
“You think a BB gun is dangerous! Your dogs are dangerous! A BB gun is not going to kill you! You have kids playing with the dogs! You think a BB gun can kill you! I can kill you! I will kill you and Indiana state law says I can kill you! Dude, you came into my yard screamed at me about shooting a BB gun! You put up a fence! Throw and go, the last time I checked I am still the chief law enforcement officer until Dec. 31 so go ahead and call the cops! Good luck with that! Throw me my thing!,” Nash said, according to the affidavit.
Salazar-Stuck said he took Nash’s threat seriously, telling officers that his wife, Monica, had video recorded some of the confrontation on her cellphone with everything after “Indiana law says I can kill you,” recorded, according to the police report.
The couple told Indiana State Police investigators they were “very concerned” for their safety due to Nash’s “erratic behavior,” as well as his position and power as prosecutor and chief law enforcement officer, the court document states. They also said they believed Nash “can carry out his threats to kill Mr. Stuck,” the affidavit states.
This incident and the resulting charges led to Thursday’s attorney discipline complaint, in which the commission alleges Nash violated two Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b) and 8.4(d).
“It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects,” the commission wrote with respect to the first alleged rule violation.
Further, the commission wrote, “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
“… Lawyers holding public office assume legal responsibilities going beyond those of other citizens,” the commission’s complaint notes.
“… As Bartholomew County’s elected prosecutor (and, as such, the county’s highest-ranking law enforcement officer), (Nash) had an even greater responsibility to conduct himself, both professionally and personally, in an appropriate manner.
“… By invoking his role at the prosecutor’s office and as the county’s chief law enforcement officer during his verbal altercation with his neighbor,” the commission charged, Nash “engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
Nash did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment Thursday afternoon.
Nash, a Republican who served more than 20 years as the county’s elected prosecutor, launched an unsuccessful challenge to State Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, in 2022, and now has a local private law practice.
The disciplinary commission will recommend any potential professional sanction for Nash to the Indiana Supreme Court, which has ultimate authority to decide whether to impose discipline, and may do so in a range from a reprimand to disbarment.
