Appeals court upholds sentence of former attorney
Lead Summary
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The Fourth District Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of a Highland County jury regarding a local attorney, convicted on charges he used his clients funds for his own use.
Former attorney John Slagle was sentenced on March 19, 2010 to six years in prison following the conviction. In April 2010 he appealed the sentenced.
According to court documents, Slagle was found guilty of grand theft, a felony of the fourth degree; theft from an elderly person, a felony of the third degree; aggravated theft, a felony of the third degree; grand theft, a felony of the fourth degree; and falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree during a jury trial in December in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
The Highland County Prosecutor's Office said Monday that the court of appeals overruled all assignments of error and ordered Slagle to serve the full term of his sentence.
The state was represented by Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins during the appeals process.
"The court of appeals recognized the very serious nature of these crimes and held that the six-year sentence was an appropriate sentence," said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "This case was very serious as Mr. Slagle was an attorney and violated the trust of his clients, many of whom were handicapped or elderly. People need to know that it is not acceptable behavior by anyone, especially an attorney. I am very glad the Fourth District Court of Appeals recognized the seriousness of this case and held the sentence to be just and appropriate."
In addition to the aforementioned charges, Slagle entered an Alford plea April 14 in Highland County Common Pleas Court on one count of theft, a felony of the fourth degree. When he was indicted, the plea was initially a felony of the second degree but was reduced as a result of the plea. Visiting Judge John Crawford stated than an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but "avoids the consequences of a trial."
He is also serving an additional sentence on separate charges out of Montgomery County.
According to the website of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Slagle withdrew from the practice of law in January 2009, and court documents show he was facing disciplinary action by the court.
The Fourth District Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of a Highland County jury regarding a local attorney, convicted on charges he used his clients' funds for his own use.
Former attorney John Slagle was sentenced on March 19, 2010 to six years in prison following the conviction. In April 2010, he appealed the sentence.
According to court documents, Slagle was found guilty of grand theft, a felony of the fourth degree; theft from an elderly person, a felony of the third degree; aggravated theft, a felony of the third degree; grand theft, a felony of the fourth degree; and falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree during a jury trial in December in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
The Highland County Prosecutor's Office said Monday that the court of appeals overruled all assignments of error and ordered Slagle to serve the full term of his sentence.
The state was represented by Assistant Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins during the appeals process.
"The court of appeals recognized the very serious nature of these crimes and held that the six-year sentence was an appropriate sentence," said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "This case was very serious as Mr. Slagle was an attorney and violated the trust of his clients, many of whom were handicapped or elderly. People need to know that it is not acceptable behavior by anyone, especially an attorney. I am very glad the Fourth District Court of Appeals recognized the seriousness of this case and held the sentence to be just and appropriate."
In addition to the aforementioned charges, Slagle entered an Alford plea April 14 in Highland County Common Pleas Court on one count of theft, a felony of the fourth degree. When he was indicted, the plea was initially a felony of the second degree but was reduced as a result of the plea. Visiting Judge John Crawford stated than an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but "avoids the consequences of a trial."
He is also serving an additional sentence on separate charges out of Montgomery County.
According to the website of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Slagle withdrew from the practice of law in January 2009, and court documents show he was facing disciplinary action by the court.