Accused of bilking elderly client, man withdraws guilty plea

A former financial adviser accused of stealing money from an elderly Meadville woman withdrew his guilty plea Friday morning before Crawford County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Anthony Vardaro.

David E.A. Seagren, 70, originally pleaded guilty in November last year, facing up to 62 years in prison and $140,000 in fines on six counts of theft by deception and two counts of forgery in a plea agreement with the Crawford County District Attorney’s Office.

Meadville police charged him with taking tens of thousands of dollars from a 97-year-old woman’s bank accounts and using the money on himself.

He verbally asked to withdraw the guilty plea prior to his sentencing in early January.

Vardaro asked Seagren on Friday if he understood that going to trial would mean facing the original 52 charges — 22 counts of theft by deception, 22 counts of theft by unlawful taking and eight counts of forgery.  (Continue Reading) 

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Accused of bilking elderly client, man withdraws guilty plea