JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A St. Louis-area lawyer is suspended following accusations that he told a client he could reduce her forgery charges in exchange for sports memorabilia.

Brian Zink, of Lake St. Louis, agreed to stop practicing law for a year retrospective to June 2007 as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the agreement didn’t limit the court’s right to discipline lawyers. The court suspended Zink’s law license for an additional six months.

Zink was accused of soliciting items signed by football player Terry Bradshaw from a client with the intent to give them to a prosecutor.

Zink attorney Paul D’Agrosa says he understands the court’s rationale but thinks the penalty is too harsh.

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