BOWLING GREEN – A local lawyer entered not guilty pleas today in Wood County Common Pleas Court where he is charged with 14 felony offenses alleging he stole more than $400,000 from a client.

Robert Searfoss III, 40, of Perrysburg was named in a secret indictment handed up by a Wood County grand jury last week charging him with two counts of aggravated theft, four counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, four counts of money laundering, three counts of theft, and one count of grand theft.

Judge Alan Mayberry set bond at $500,000.

The indictment alleges that between April, 2015 and April, 2017, Mr. Searfoss stole approximately $435,000 from Eric Walker and the Alice C. Walker Revocable Trust, for which he was the trustee. He allegedly used the stolen funds to make payments on a home equity loan of credit associated with real estate he owns on Georgetown Drive in Bowling Green.

The indictment includes numerous forfeiture specifications that seek forfeiture of the Georgetown Drive property as well as a home on Shawnee Drive in Perrysburg, his law practice on Oak Street in Bowling Green, and two vehicles.

First Published May 23, 2017, 8:03 p.m.