A Butler attorney is not permitted to practice law for three years.

Facing allegations of misconduct relating to his accounting practices, 53-year-old James Francis Donohue chose to accept a voluntary suspension rather than fight the allegations, according to an order Tuesday from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

According to the court records, Donohue, a lawyer since Dec. 1, 1989, co-mingled his personal finances with money in a special account earmarked for legal business only.

According to the 24-page order, the issue came to light because money awarded to several of Donohue’s clients — including a $45,000 lawsuit settlement to a 17-year-old accident victim — was not given promptly to them.

For example, in the case of the accident victim, Donohue wrote his client a check only after the juvenile had made several telephone calls of inquiry and hired another attorney to take over the matter.

That allegation occurred in 2012. Similar allegations were made by clients in 2011 through 2013.

And the opinion states that Donohue transferred $9,500 of his own money into the business account: In 2011, Donohue deposited a $4,500 check marked “gift” from Elizabeth Donohue into his attorney’s fund to cover checks owed to other clients. And in 2012 he deposited a $5,000 “gift” check from the same person into his personal account.

The opinion does not identify the lawyer’s relationship with Elizabeth Donohue.

Donohue’s suspension is effective Aug. 6. He did not return a telephone message left at his office Tuesday.

However, in an affidavit signed by Donohue as part of the Supreme Court action, he “acknowledges the material facts set forth ... are true, and he consents because he knows that if the charges pending against him continue to be prosecuted in the pending proceeding, he could not successfully defend against them.”