Reduced charges in McClurkin funeral fraud case

January 23, 2015 at 1:09p.m.

WARREN

Patrick McClurkin, the younger of the two McClurkin brothers charged with defrauding more than 50 customers of their former Girard funeral home, has pleaded guilty to reduced charges and will be sentenced later.

Patrick McClurkin, 48, of Abbey Street in Girard, appeared before Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court this afternoon and pleaded guilty to five charges that could result in a prison term of up to 10 years.

But in exchange for testimony against his brother, Robert McClurkin, Patrick McClurkin could get only probation, according to his plea agreement.

Patrick McClurkin will be sentenced after the case against his brother concludes.