By Daily Press staff
LOS ANGELES — A former civil attorney who had a law practice in Brentwood pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling nearly $800,000 from clients following a nearly three-year investigation, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced.
Steven Howard, 55, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Commissioner Dennis Mulcahy to 25 counts of grand theft and admitted the special allegation that he stole more than $150,000, said Deputy District Attorney William Penzin of the Justice System Integrity Division. Howard pleaded open to the court, meaning there was no negotiated settlement with the D.A.’s office.
Howard’s case is unique in that he had his attorney call the D.A.’s office to turn himself in. None of his clients yet realized they were the victims until an investigation was launched, Penzin said. The D.A.’s office notified the State Bar, which launched a separate investigation. Howard, who has been a member since 1975, has since resigned from the State Bar. Many of his clients have been reimbursed through a State Bar restitution fund, Penzin said.
Howard is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16 by Judge Norm Shapiro. He faces up to 21 years in state prison. Penzin said prosecutors will ask that he make full restitution to victims and the State Bar.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 16, 2005. Read the original PDF.