A Murfreesboro criminal defense attorney was caught on recorded jail phone calls admitting he slipped a dose of Ativan to a female inmate, a revelation that has reignited local worries about ethics and safety inside the Rutherford County justice system. The admission came more than a year after a grand jury handed up a five-count indictment against the lawyer, who has nevertheless continued to appear in local courtrooms representing clients.
WSMV Investigates obtained the recordings and identified the attorney as Kirk D. Catron. In the audio, Catron is heard saying, “Because I broke the law. I did something stupid,” and acknowledging that he “took advantage of my position,” according to WSMV. In one exchange, a female inmate tells him, “they just saw you slip me one Ativan,” and Catron warns that both of them could be arrested. The recordings shown to the station also include other familiar, personal conversations between the two.
Indictment and arrest history
A Rutherford County grand jury indicted Catron on March 4, 2025, on five criminal counts, including a charge for introducing contraband into a penal institution and multiple counts tied to unlawful telecommunications devices in a jail, as reported by WGNS. WGNS reported that the indictment was unsealed in May 2025 and that Catron was briefly booked on May 8 before being released on bond. Local coverage has also noted allegations involving a Schedule IV controlled substance and several motions to recuse that were filed after the indictment became public.
Board records and past discipline
State disciplinary records show that Catron has previously been publicly censured by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, including a January 14, 2025, censure for failing to work on a client’s child-support matter, according to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The Board’s attorney profile for Catron also lists a Petition for Discipline filed on July 23, 2025, that alleges he disclosed privileged client communications. Those public records note that prior censures do not automatically remove an attorney from practice, although they can factor into any later decision on formal discipline.
What could happen to his law license
Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, an attorney can face administrative suspension if they plead guilty to or are convicted of a “serious crime,” and the Board is allowed to pursue its own disciplinary action without waiting on the criminal court schedule, according to the state’s disciplinary rules at Tennessee Courts. The rule defines “serious crime” broadly, covering felonies and offenses that involve dishonesty or interference with the administration of justice, so a conviction on some of the counts could trigger fast administrative consequences for Catron. Any full disciplinary case would still move on a separate track and could end in a formal hearing on what, if any, sanction to impose.
Seen in court, board response, and next steps
WSMV reported that more than a year after the March 2025 indictment, Catron was still representing clients in Rutherford County Criminal Court and was spotted handling dockets as recently as last week. The station also quoted Sandy Garrett, chief disciplinary counsel for the Board, who said investigations into attorney misconduct remain confidential unless and until formal charges are filed. WSMV noted that Catron did not respond to requests for comment at his office. According to WSMV, he is scheduled to return to court later this month.
Local defense attorneys and courthouse regulars say the case shows how criminal prosecutions and attorney discipline can run on separate timelines, leaving judges, prosecutors, and clients to navigate the in-between. Upcoming hearings in Catron’s criminal case, along with any public filings from the Board, will determine whether he continues to practice law in Rutherford County while the charges play out.
