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SoCal lawyer charged with embezzling from Walt Disney's secretary

The Associated Press | Thursday, Mar 9 2006 9:15 PM

Last Updated: Thursday, Mar 9 2006 9:15 PM

An attorney was arrested Thursday on charges of embezzling $150,000 from the trust fund he set up for an elderly woman who once worked as Walt Disney's secretary.

Prosecutors say Salvatore Patrick Osio, 68, set up the trust for Alicia Waters and her husband in 2002 and took $150,000 out of it for his personal use.

Osio was jailed on $150,000 bail after being arrested at his Palos Verdes home. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday on one count each of grand theft, theft from an elder, forgery and perjury.

It couldn't be immediately determined if Osio has hired an attorney. He has not practiced law for some time, said Diane Curtis, spokeswoman for the state Bar of California.

Waters discovered the theft after her husband's death and asked for the money back, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Decio Rangel. When Osio refused, Waters took him to probate court and the amount was returned, Rangel said.

Waters, who then reported Osio to the state Bar, died in November at 92.

"She died in really sad circumstances," Rangel said. "He basically sold all her furniture and put her in a nursing home. She had no family here."

Osio faces up to six years and eight months in prison if convicted.