FORT SMITH -- An attorney who surrendered his law license in May pleaded guilty Wednesday in Sebastian County Circuit Court to stealing money from his law firm.
Michael Redd, formerly with the Fort Smith firm Robertson Beasley Shipley and Redd PLLC, was given five years' probation and fined $2,500 plus $150 in court costs after pleading guilty to theft, a Class B felony, before Judge Stephen Tabor.
Documents filed in court Wednesday said if Redd does not violate the conditions of his probation for the next five years, an order may be entered dismissing the charge.
Redd surrendered his law license in May to the Arkansas Supreme Court. His attorney Rex Chronister of Fort Smith told Tabor that Redd also gave up his certified public accountant license.
In a petition he submitted to the Supreme Court in April, Redd wrote that he believed an audit would find he took more than $100,000 of the firm's money and put it to his own use.
The theft charge, which was filed Wednesday in Circuit Court just prior to his plea, accused Redd of taking the money between October 2014 and March 2016.
"I will not contest such evidence," he wrote. "When confronted by firm members, I admitted my conduct. I also believe that any disciplinary proceeding against me on this matter based on the evidence [the Arkansas Office of Professional Conduct] will have by then likely result in an outcome adverse to me and involve a severe disciplinary sanction, possibly disbarment."
Chronister told Tabor on Wednesday that Redd had repaid the money he stole, none of the money stolen was from clients, and the members of the law firm were satisfied with the repayment.
He also said the firm had written a letter recommending a sentence that was lighter than what Redd was given Wednesday.
Attorney Ben Shipley said Wednesday the law firm had no comment on Redd's charges or plea.
Redd's plea and sentencing were the result of a plea bargain with Jason Barrett with the Arkansas Office of Prosecutor Coordinator who was appointed special prosecutor for the case.
Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue said Wednesday that he asked for a special prosecutor to handle the case to avoid the appearance of impropriety since he has had dealings with Redd and law firm members over the years.
Redd also resigned March 21 from a position he held on the Fort Smith Planning Commission, planning director Wally Bailey said. He said Redd had served on the commission since October 2014.
State Desk on 07/21/2016