CHARLESTON — A Huntington attorney is facing charges before the Lawyer Disciplinary Committee over phone calls he had with the wife of a Mingo County client.

David D. Perry has been accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward Christine Cline-Tidwell, the wife of Christopher Cline, while Cline was in the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden in March 2009.

A statement of charges has been filed against Perry by the Lawyer Disciplinary Board, formally charging him with improper conduct in relation to his representation of Cline.

According to the statement, in late Feb. 2009, Cline’s wife contacted Perry to represent Cline after he was indicted on drug charges in Mingo County.

In the initial conversation Perry allegedly said he would need $7,500 plus expenses to represent Cline in the case. A week later Perry and Cline met at Tolsia High School, but she only brought him $1,800.

The statement says Perry agreed to take that as a down payment and Cline agreed to pay $1,200 more the next week.

On March 2, 2009, Cline took $200 to Perry at his Huntington office. At that time Perry had Cline sign contracts saying the cost of representation would be $6,000.

The statement charges that Perry entered a notice of appearance that same day in Mingo County Circuit Court and filed discovery motions on March 4. Perry met with Cline at the regional jail and Cline also signed the employment contract a week later.

Perry had a series of conversations with Cline’s wife during the same time period and, during at least one phone call, he allegedly solicited oral sex from her.

The disciplinary board is expected to issue its findings on the allegations and a recommendation for sanctions soon. The W.Va. Supreme Court will have the final say in the matter.