Slagle sentenced to another year in prison
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A former Hillsboro attorney currently serving a total of 10 years in prison on charges he used funds from his clients for his own use has been sentenced to another year in prison.
John W. 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."
Slagle, who appeared in custody from the Highland County Sheriff's Office as he is currently serving prison time, was represented by attorney Diane M. Menashe.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey appeared on behalf of the state.
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.
On April 14, Crawford sentenced Slagle to an additional 12 months in prison to be served consecutively to the sentences he is currently serving out of Highland County and Montgomery County. Slagle could have been sentenced to a maximum of 18 months in prison and faced a fine of $5,000. No additional fines were imposed, but restitution was ordered to be paid to the victim in the amount of $52,328.
Menashe asked that Crawford impose a minimum sentence, or a sentence that would be served concurrently to the time Slagle is already serving. Menashe said that Slagle "is serving an aggregate 10-year sentence," and he will "get out when he is 74." She also noted that Slagle suffers from depression and has other health problems and that in all likelihood, "it is probably a life sentence as it is." Menashe said that Slagle should get some credit for pleading in the case because it saved the county the expense of a trial.
Crawford said a consecutive sentence was necessary due to the "significant harm imposed on the victim."
Grandey said that Slagle represented the victim in a personal injury accident case and that the victim received $60,000 in damages. Slagle paid the victim less than $10,000, and the remaining funds, which were supposed to be held in trust, were used for Slagle's own benefit.
Following the hearing, Slagle was returned to the Corrections Reception Center in Orient.
A former Hillsboro attorney currently serving a total of 10 years in prison on charges he used funds from his clients for his own use has been sentenced to another year in prison.
John W. 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."
Slagle, who appeared in custody from the Highland County Sheriff's Office as he is currently serving prison time, was represented by attorney Diane M. Menashe.
Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey appeared on behalf of the state.
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.
On April 14, Crawford sentenced Slagle to an additional 12 months in prison to be served consecutively to the sentences he is currently serving out of Highland County and Montgomery County. Slagle could have been sentenced to a maximum of 18 months in prison and faced a fine of $5,000. No additional fines were imposed, but restitution was ordered to be paid to the victim in the amount of $52,328.
Menashe asked that Crawford impose a minimum sentence, or a sentence that would be served concurrently to the time Slagle is already serving. Menashe said that Slagle "is serving an aggregate 10-year sentence," and he will "get out when he is 74." She also noted that Slagle suffers from depression and has other health problems and that in all likelihood, "it is probably a life sentence as it is." Menashe said that Slagle should get some credit for pleading in the case because it saved the county the expense of a trial.
Crawford said a consecutive sentence was necessary due to the "significant harm imposed on the victim."
Grandey said that Slagle represented the victim in a personal injury accident case and that the victim received $60,000 in damages. Slagle paid the victim less than $10,000, and the remaining funds, which were supposed to be held in trust, were used for Slagle's own benefit.
Following the hearing, Slagle was returned to the Corrections Reception Center in Orient.
[[In-content Ad]]According to the Web site 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.