COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Supreme Court of Ohio has suspended former Air Force attorney William McClain of Warren County for two years, following a violent incident fueled by alcohol that required a SWAT team intervention. McClain, a former judge advocate general with the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, has been under interim suspension since March 2023, following his February 2023 conviction on two felony counts of aggravated assault and one count of inducing panic.
The incident unfolded in October 2022 after McClain, while intoxicated, became belligerent at a bar with his fiancée. Following an altercation at the bar, McClain assaulted his fiancée and escalated the situation further when she and another woman attempted to remove firearms from his home. McClain reportedly pursued the women into the neighborhood with a gun, firing a shot into the air after a confrontation.
Law enforcement responded to a neighbor’s call, sending a SWAT unit to McClain’s home. Despite initial negotiation attempts, McClain refused to surrender, leading the response team to deploy gas canisters. After a standoff, McClain surrendered 30 minutes later.
The disciplinary board recommended a two-year suspension for McClain, with credit for time already served under interim suspension, and the Court accepted this recommendation. Additionally, McClain must meet five conditions before reinstatement, including compliance with his criminal sentence, a three-year program with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program, and treatment plans from mental health professionals. He must also provide proof of his ability to practice law competently and ethically.
In a statement, the Court highlighted the seriousness of McClain’s actions, noting, “Mixing weapons and alcohol not only endangered the women he assaulted and threatened, but it created a danger to the public.” McClain has been ordered to cover the costs of the disciplinary proceedings.