The attorney general's office issued an opinion Thursday that Harrell had to be immediately suspended because of a law requiring it for a legislator charged with a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. The "common law misconduct in office" charge could result in a 10-year sentence, according to the opinion, which points to a 2002 Court of Appeals ruling. Additionally, wrote Solicitor General Robert Cook, the six charges of misusing campaign donations probably can be considered a "crime of moral turpitude." That's another class of charges requiring suspension of any official duties pending the outcome.