TRUMBULL COUNTY Attorney pleads innocent to multiple charges

The matter is still under investigation.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 77-year-old attorney has pleaded innocent to several charges, including two counts of theft from an elderly person.
Atty. Albert F. Swartz of East Market Street entered the pleas Wednesday before Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Swartz, who is being represented by the Ohio Public Defender Commission, declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
The Trumbull County grand jury secretly indicted Swartz last week. He was told to appear in court Tuesday, officials said.
"I just got the call to come here today," said Swartz.
After the court hearing, he followed deputy sheriffs across the street to the jail. He was booked in the jail and then released on a $10,000 bond.
He is scheduled to return to court June 30.
"I haven't had a chance to discuss the matter with him," said Atty. Anthony Consoldane of the public defender commission.
"He just said he wanted us to represent him. I'll get together with him soon and go over this. I've always known him to be a good guy. He was always helping people."
Charges
Swartz faces one count of forgery, two counts of theft from an elderly person and two counts of falsification in a theft offense.
According to the indictment, Swartz is accused of taking about $70,000 from two probate cases he handled. Both cases were pending in Trumbull County Probate Court.
LuWayne Annos, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said the case was investigated by Robert Kroner, a former FBI agent who now does private investigation work.
"The matter is still under investigation at this time, so I cannot make any further comments," Annos said.
Kroner could not be reached to comment.
sinkovich@vindy.com