Ex-Fostoria council clerk sentenced for grand theft

2/6/2006

FOSTORIA - Paul W. Allison, 60, former Fostoria City Council clerk, was sentenced last week to five years of community control.

In November, he pleaded guilty to a grand theft charge in Seneca County Common Pleas Court.

He was ordered to pay court costs and $15,059 in restitution, and must complete 100 hours of community service.

Allison, a disbarred lawyer, was convicted of stealing money from a client's estate.

An indictment filed against Allison in August alleged that he stole more than $15,000 from the estate of Jacy L. Welte between August, 1999, and February, 2000. Allison pleaded guilty.

The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Allison's law license in November, 2000, because he kept $19,600 in fees from the estate when only $4,540 had been approved by Seneca County Probate Court.

He was disbarred in March, 2003, for practicing law with a suspended license.

Allison resigned from his positions of clerk and chairman of the Civil Service Commission on Jan. 1.