Attorney Accused Of Pocketing Closing Funds Due To Lien Holders Seeks "Free Pass" From Prosecution As Psych Pros Contest Competence To Stand Trial

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Tribune Review reports:

• Two mental health experts had differing opinions Wednesday on whether a once-prominent Fayette County trial attorney is competent to stand trial on theft charges.

• Adam Sedlock, a Uniontown psychologist, testified [...] that crippling physical ailments have reduced Mark F. Morrison of Hopwood to functioning at the level of a seventh-grader. He said Morrison's condition is permanent and he will never be able to assist in his own defense.

***

• Morrison, 51, is accused of stealing about $99,000 in mortgage-settlement payments from two elderly Hopwood couples.(1) Instead of settling outstanding mortgages on the two properties, Morrison allegedly paid off smaller mortgages and diverted most of the money.

For more, see Ex-attorney Morrison's ability to face theft trial disputed.

For story update (1-15-09), see Morrison ruled competent to stand trial.

Go here, Go here, Go here, and Go here for other stories of trust account / escrow account theft of funds.

(1) Reportedly, Morrison is charged with two counts each of:

• theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received,
• forgery,
• tampering with records or identification, and
• misapplication of entrusted property. EscrowRipOffAlpha