A State Bar of Arizona investigation into whether Tempe City Councilman Kolby Granville furnished alcohol to minors is moving forward.

The Arizona Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee, which acts similar to a grand jury, reviewed allegations and in early February issued a probable cause order, which authorizes the bar to prepare a complaint against Granville.

It's one of several investigations faced by the two-term councilman, who is a licensed attorney and a former teacher at a Tempe charter school.

What prompted the investigations?

The investigations stem from allegations made against Granville in late 2017 and 2018 by three former students of Tempe Preparatory Academy, where Granville taught.

Granville was fired from Tempe Prep in December 2017 after school officials learned of the complaints.

Two of the women alleged he gave them alcohol when they were under 21 and one also said he made unwanted sexual advances. A third woman alleged he made unwanted sexual advances toward her shortly after she graduated. The women were not in his classes while at school.

Granville has admitted being in a consensual relationship with one of the women after she graduated but has denied the other allegations.

He said dating the woman was a “bad life choice.”

“That does not, however, mean that it was an illegal choice, or in violation of any education, state bar, or city-related code of conduct,” he wrote in a response to a city investigation into the allegations.

Granville faces city investigation too

Police never charged Granville with a crime. A Phoenix police investigation, initiated at Tempe’s request, was closed in March 2018 after police said the victims would not aid prosecution.

Last week, Tempe released its independent investigation into whether Granville violated the city's code of conduct based on the women's allegations. An investigator hired by the city wrote in the report that Granville appears to have violated the conduct code.

Attorney Sarah Barnes wrote in findings obtained by The Arizona Republic that the allegations are "more probably true than not."

The Tempe City Council is expected to discuss the allegations against Granville later this month.

Granville did not return a call seeking comment Monday.

3rd review relates to teaching

Granville also said he has a case pending with the Arizona Board of Education.

Granville, according to a transcript of his interview with the city investigator, said he had a case pending before the Arizona State Board of Education.

He said shortly before being fired from Tempe Prep, he sought to renew his Arizona teaching certificate. The board sent his application for review after the allegations surfaced, he said.

He told an investigator the board is also reviewing whether to revoke his teaching certificate, which expired while teaching at Tempe Prep. Tempe Prep is a charter school and doesn't require its teachers to be licensed in Arizona.

Granville told the investigator the board is "reviewing if they want to revoke my expired teaching certificate, which I’m not even sure how that works."

It's not clear what the current status of the board review is.

Alicia Williams, executive director of the state Board of Education, declined comment, citing a state law related to confidentiality of teacher investigations.

More on the bar review

The state bar is looking into whether Granville, a licensed attorney in Arizona since March 2008, violated rules of professional conduct.

The allegations before the state bar are a separate proceeding from the city's investigation.

Bar Spokesman Rick DeBruhl said Granville does not have any past disciplinary actions.

A complaint has not yet been filed, and a hearing date has not been set.

The Arizona Supreme Court adopts rules that cover professional conduct for Arizona attorneys. The rules cover everything from what an attorney can name a law firm to matters involving being truthful with the court, said Patricia Sallen, a Phoenix attorney who isn't representing Granville but focuses on lawyer professional responsibility issues in Arizona.

One of the rules states it's professional misconduct "for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer."

The State Bar of Arizona is the organization that receives complaints against attorneys and decides whether to investigate. The Arizona Supreme Court panel ultimately decides whether the accusations violate its professional rules.

It's not clear yet how the allegations against Granville will unfold.

Next steps in bar complaint

The next step would be for the state bar to file a complaint, and for a hearing to be scheduled before a three-member Arizona Supreme Court disciplinary panel.

If the complaint proceeds to a hearing, the panel hears evidence and issues a finding on whether the attorney violated professional conduct rules. If the panel finds the attorney in violation, it would also decide sanctions.

Sanctions range from the least serious: admonition or reprimand to the more serious: suspension or disbarment. An admonition wouldn't appear by the attorney's name on the State Bar of Arizona's website, but a reprimand would be noted by the attorney's name.

'Who would hire me?'

Granville told the investigator that it has been difficult to find employment since the allegations surfaced.

He said he was unemployed for nine months and spent $30,000 in savings after being fired from Tempe Prep.

Granville said because the allegations have been widely reported, he has had job offers rescinded from Arizona State University, Great Hearts Academies and an edutainment gaming company.

"Who would hire me? Like you Google my name and like, done," he told the investigator.

Reach the reporter at anne.ryman@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8072. Follow her on Twitter: @anneryman.

Reach the reporter at paulina.pineda@azcentral.com or 602-444-8130. Follow her on Twitter: @paulinapineda22

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