Former Columbus attorney, guardian pleads guilty to theft

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A former Columbus attorney who served as a court-appointed guardian to nearly 400 Ohioans admitted he stole from four of his wards and from taxpayers.

The Columbus Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1SLSZAS ) 65-year-old Paul Kormanik pleaded guilty Tuesday to four counts of theft from an elderly or disabled person, one count of theft and five counts of tampering with records. The maximum combined sentence for the offenses is 23 years.

Prosecutors say Kormanik took just over $40,000 from accounts belonging to three of his wards after they had died and moved an additional $6,368 in life-insurance proceeds he received as guardian of another woman to his personal checking account.

Kormanik also falsified applications for city-paid funeral expenses on behalf of his wards by concealing their assets.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20.

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Former Columbus attorney, guardian pleads guilty to theft

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