An Assistant Marion County State’s Attorney had his license to practice law suspended Monday by the Illinois Supreme Court as part of a sanction for professional misconduct.

Brian Merrell had his 60-day suspension stayed pending his successful completion of two-years conditional probation.

The discipline stems from a 2015 DUI arrest that ultimately led to Merrell pleading guilty to illegal transportation of alcohol.

At the time of his arrest, Merrell was the Centralia City Attorney. He was arrested just before 7 p.m. November 25, 2015, after he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car.

Officers arrested Merrell after they responded to a complaint of a driver passed out in the lane of traffic at the Fifth Street railroad crossing in Centralia.

Merrell, who was licensed in 2009, was suspended until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed in its entirety by a two-year period of conditional probation. He can continue to practice law if he’s compliant with the terms of his probation.

In 2012 Merrell was charged with and convicted of DUI in Jefferson County. He was sentenced to 18 months supervision, and ordered to pay a fine plus complete alcohol treatment.

In 2006, he was arrested and charged with DUI in Marion County. But in 2007 he was instead charged with reckless driving in that case to which he pleaded guilty and the DUI was dismissed.