Former Niles funeral director offered 3-year prison term in plea deal

Staff report

WARREN

Former Niles funeral director Robert P. McDermott Sr. has a week to decide whether he’s willing to go to prison for three years or risk a much longer prison sentence and take his case to trial.

During a hearing Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, Chuck Morrow, an assistant county prosecutor, told Judge Ronald Rice he’s giving McDermott until next Thursday to decide whether to accept the plea agreement or go to trial June 2.

If he goes to trial and is convicted on all counts, McDermott, 52, of Lincoln Avenue in Niles, could get more than 50 years in prison.

McDermott is charged in a 19-count indictment with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft from an elderly person or disabled adult, and multiple counts of grand theft, tampering with records, forgery and violations of pre-need funeral contracts.

Police said he stole more than $150,000 dating back to 2001 by failing to deposit money in a trust account or insurance policy for more than 50 customers of his Robert P. McDermott Memorial Home on Warren Avenue who prepaid for funeral expenses. The business has since closed.

The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors permanently revoked the licenses of McDermott and his funeral home in July.

Niles police discovered through an investigation that some of the cremated remains had been marked incorrectly and didn’t end up in the right place.

Similar charges are pending against brothers Robert J. McClurkin, 49, of South State Street, Girard; and Patrick J. McClurkin, 47, of Abbey Street, Girard. They operated McClurkin Funeral Home in Girard.