Lawyer yanks plea on theft charges for trial

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A North Adams lawyer who has been accused of stealing $15,000 from his former law firm employer has withdrawn his plea when told by a judge he would not avoid jail.

The Berkshire Eagle reports ( http://bit.ly/Px00Tz ) that Matthew McDonough was in court on Friday for a plea on three larceny charges for the alleged theft in 2010.

Prosecutors asked that McDonough be sentenced to a year in jail with six months served and the rest suspended for three years including probation.

McDonough's lawyer said he repaid the law firm before the criminal charges were filed.

The judge said he would sentence McDonough to one year in jail with 90 days to be served and the balance suspended for a year, including probation.

McDonough decided to instead go to trial.