Justices suspend attorney who staged own shooting

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The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended the southern Indiana attorney who pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge stemming from shooting himself in a state park.

Peter Raventos, who practiced in Spencer, has been suspended for failure to cooperate with the Disciplinary Commission, per an April 29 order. Raventos was already suspended for continuing legal education noncompliance and dues nonpayment.

Raventos pleaded guilty in September 2013 to Class B misdemeanor false reporting in exchange for prosecutors dropping a Class D felony charge of obstruction of justice.

Raventos called 911 at 10:05 p.m. June 25, 2012, and told conservation officers he had been shot in the back by an unknown gunman in McCormick’s Creek State Park. Conservation officers said evidence collected at the scene, and in subsequent searches of Raventos’ car and his home suggested he staged the event to portray himself as the victim of a random shooting.

Raventos was treated for wounds inflicted by more than 20 shotgun pellets.

Authorities said Raventos’ claim of an assailant in the park quickly began to unravel.  From witness interviews and evidence, conservation officers concluded that Raventos rigged a shotgun so he could fire it at himself from some distance.

Raventos never provided investigators with a motive for the shooting.

As part of the disciplinary matter, Raventos must reimburse the Disciplinary Commission $524.44 for the costs of prosecuting the proceeding.

 

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