Former New Philadelphia attorney sentenced for stealing $394,266 from clients' accounts

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A former lawyer who took a total of $394,266 from the estates of three clients has been sentenced to serve 18 months in prison.

Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Michael Ernest sentenced Edd K. Wright, 83, on Tuesday for two counts of aggravated theft and one count of theft.

More: New Philadelphia attorney resigns from practice of law after being found guilty of theft

More: Attorney Edd K. Wright found guilty of stealing from three estates

"You were put in a position of trust," the judge said. "You violated that trust. You were there to protect funds and you comandeered those funds for your own use."

Ernest said Wright abused his position as a fiduciary, causing serious economic harm to heirs who anticipated receiving proceeds from the estates.

"These funds were not a loan," the judge said. "You can't just borrow somebody else's funds. They were out of their hands during that time period. They were unable to use their own property because you chose to use it for your own needs.

"It's not just the heirs that suffer as a result of this," Ernest said. "It is lack of confidence that the public has in a justice system that is already subject to question, many times, by individuals that feel it it is rigged, that feel it is unfair to those on the outside."

The judge said he could not overlook the fact Wright tried to conceal the thefts.

"It only comes to light after probate court essentially calls you on the carpet and says, 'What is going on? This has been dragging on for years.' And, at the end, you're unable to provide any explanation other than, 'I took the funds and I used them,'" Ernest said.

Wright pleaded no contest in March to the criminal charges. Ernest found him guilty.

Defense attorney David Hipp said most of the money has been repaid. He said he is holding one check for $1,829 that was written to an heir, but was returned.

One aggravated theft charge said Wright took $228,437 in proceeds from the estate of a man between March 1, 2018 and April 30, 2021. The second aggravated theft charge said he took $164,000 in proceeds from another man's estate between June 1, 2012 and July 31, 2021. The theft charge said the defendant took $1,829 from the proceeds of a woman's estate between April 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019.

The defense attorney asked the judge to consider probation rather than incarceration because Wright is remorseful and has made restitution. Hipp said prison might not be the best place for him close to the end of his life. He said Wright had a heart valve replaced several years ago.