Samuel Joseph “Joe” Brydon left a Butler County courtroom today and when to the county prison.

He will be there 9 to 18 months.

Brydon, a once prominent attorney, stole $544,000 from three clients’ estates.

Judge William Shaffer earlier this month sentenced Brydon, who had pleaded guilty to three counts of felony theft, to serve 9 to 18 months in prison, 15 years of probation and 600 hours of community service.

Brydon, 58, of Slippery Rock was to report to the county prison on Friday morning, but instead he first appeared in court where his attorney Michael Jewart of Butler made an unsuccessful plea to Shaffer to reconsider the prison portion of the sentence and instead assign Brydon to house arrest.

Jewart argued that justice would be better served if Brydon were on house arrest so he could work to earn $76,000 that still is owed to the Davis estate as well repay family members who lent him money to cover the other $468,000 he took.

Alternatively, Jewart asked the judge to grant Brydon work release for 60 hours a week while he is in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia McLean opposed both ideas. She noted that Brydon’s family, who reportedly lent him the money because they love him, are not victims in this case, and their interests should not be factored into the sentence.

Additionally, she argued that granting Brydon work release would be the equivalent of allowing him to return to the scene of the crime.

Judge Shaffer sided with the prosecutors and sent Brydon to prison.