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Harveys Lake police arrest man on allegations he stole items from vehicles

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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A suspended city-based attorney has admitted to stealing from a Welsh culture group while treasurer.Hopkin T. Rowlands, Jr., 77, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty Monday in Luzerne County Court to a single count of theft, according to court papers.Court documents indicate he has 30 days to make $5,000 restitution to St. David&#8217;s Society of Wyoming Valley.Judge David W. Lupas scheduled the man&#8217;s sentencing for Oct. 5.According to a criminal complaint, St. David&#8217;s Society in April 2014 removed Rowlands from his position as treasurer &#8212; a position he occupied for five years &#8212; because of his repeated failure to produce financial records the previous summer.Police say the organization requested records from Rowlands after his removal, and received only a handful of reports.A reconstruction of the financial records through bank statements indicated the existence of a shortage in excess of $8,000, the complaint says, but Rowlands managed to produce records which reduced the shortage to more than $5,000.The state Supreme Court Disciplinary Board in January instituted a one year and one day suspension of Rowlands&#8217;s legal license, writing in an opinion that he took undocumented and unauthorized loans from a client in violation of the state Rules of Professional Conduct.The opinion says Rowlands used Fern Knoll Cemetery&#8217;s bank accounts &#8220;as his personal bank, helping himself to cash whenever he felt the need and doing so in whatever amounts he deemed appropriate to his needs.&#8221;Rowland&#8217;s loans constituted misappropriating and were fraudlent, dishonest and deceitful, the opinion says.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By James O&#8217;Malleyjomalley@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach James O&#8217;Malley at 570-991-6390 or on Twitter @TL_omalley.</shirttailMeta></div>

Suspended Wilkes-Barre lawyer pleads to theft charge