A former Edmonds lawyer was sentenced to a year behind bars Friday after admitting she stole $325,000 of her clients’ money.
Theresa Michelle Sowinski, 35, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree theft. Under an agreement reached with Snohomish County prosecutors, she conceded that extra punishment was warranted because she’d violated her clients’ trust and taken large amounts of money.
Sowinski’s sentence was double the typical punishment for felony theft. But with credit for time already served since her October arrest, she likely will be free within a couple of months, deputy prosecutor Hal Hupp said.
Sowinski wept before Superior Court Judge Linda Krese handed down the sentence. Her victims saw little reason to believe the tears were in repentance.
“Her real remorse is over the loss of an extravagant lifestyle” supported by embezzlement, said Robin Knutson, a Sowinski client who lost more than one quarter million dollars.
In court papers, Hupp pointed out that Sowinskis admitted embezzlement was 235 times the minimum loss necessary to support a first-degree theft charge.
Sowinskis license to practice law has been suspended. It is expected that the Washington State Bar Association now will take steps to disbar her.
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