A disbarred Butler attorney on Monday received a sentence of 9 to 18 months in prison after being convicted of stealing more than $544,000 from three estates he settled.

Although Samuel Joseph “Joe” Brydon, 58, of Slippery Rock was sentenced to three separate prison terms — two terms of 6 months to 1 year and one term of 9 to 18 months — for three counts of felony theft, Judge William Shaffer made the terms concurrent.

Brydon also was sentenced to a total of 15 years of probation and 600 hours of community service.

He apologized to everyone in the courtroom, including victims and his own family.

“I apologize to every one of them for even having to be here,” Brydon said.

Brydon said he couldn’t apologize to the victims earlier because the criminal case was pending.

“I will never forget the pain I caused here,” he said.

Brydon described his situation as a living hell.

“I will wear this scar on my heart forever,” he said.

Defense attorney Michael Jewart of Butler stressed Brydon already repaid most of the money. Jewart said the $76,000 still owed the John N. Davis estate would be repaid.

First Assistant District Attorney Patricia McLean, who prosecuted the case, said later she was satisfied with the sentence.

Brydon entered a straight plea so there was no sentence recommendation from prosecutors.

As part of the straight plea, lesser theft charges were dropped.

Unlike a plea bargain, the most severe charges were not reduced.

Jewart declined to comment on the sentence.

Davis of Slippery Rock was 93 when he died in 2007. His estate was missing $368,389. His son, John A. Davis, testified during the sentencing.

“Brydon’s behavior as an attorney-at-law is reprehensible,” Davis said.

Davis said he didn’t suspect funds were being misappropriated.

“His (Brydon’s) condescending attitude and subtle intimidation clouded my judgment,” Davis said.

Although Davis pointed out Brydon was in the process of declaring bankruptcy, Jewart said the $76,000 is not listed as a debt to be forgiven under the bankruptcy filing.

Jewart said he advised Brydon to not repay any money because the district attorney’s office would not make any promises if full restitution was made, but Brydon insisted on repaying the estates.

Along with the Davis estate, $81,000 was missing from the estate of Agnes Jablonski of Butler, who was 86 when she died in 2009, and $95,000 from the estate of Anita Cratty of Slippery Rock Township, who was 90 when she died in 2010.

No other victims spoke, but McLean read a statement from one who did not attend the sentencing.

The letter pointed out Brydon was taking money from estates while sitting in judgment as the county’s juvenile court master over youth crimes such as theft.

“He was the doing the same thing himself,” McLean read.

Before Shaffer handed down the sentence, Jewart requested Brydon be given house arrest in lieu of incarceration.

Jewart stressed Brydon needed to continue working to repay his relatives who loaned him money for restitution.

While Jewart conceded Brydon put a black mark on the legal profession, the defense attorney said his client posed no danger to society.

Brydon, who was an attorney since 1982, consented to disbarment by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court after the first allegations arose.

Under state guidelines, Brydon could apply for a reinstatement in five years.

But Jewart said it was unlikely Brydon’s license to practice law would ever be reinstated due to the nature of the infractions.

Jewart said in an interview he would file a motion seeking work-release status for Brydon, who reports to Butler County Prison on Aug. 30.

Brydon also worked as a county detective, probation officer and part-time district attorney for domestic relations. He was the county juvenile court master for more than 10 years.

Relatives, friends and fellow attorneys spoke on behalf of Brydon’s character.

They refuted claims by others that Brydon was not demonstrating enough humility considering his circumstances.

Attorney Kathryn Linn-Stevenson, who assumed Brydon’s Slippery Rock practice, said Brydon has reacted appropriately.

“He is profoundly ashamed of what he put his family through,” she said. “He made no excuses.”

Linn-Stevenson, who employs Brydon as a paralegal, said his resiliency is mistaken for arrogance.

Adam Brydon, Samuel Brydon’s son, said he was initially disappointed, angry and frustrated his father didn’t tell his loved ones about his problem sooner.

“My father has done wrong,” Adam Brydon said.

However, the younger Brydon said he couldn’t call his father a criminal.

Adam Brydon said his family never had a lavish lifestyle.

Brydon has not disclosed where the missing money was spent.

County detectives began an investigation after county Judge S. Michael Yeager in January 2012 alerted the district attorney’s office about an “improper disposition of the funds” from the Davis estate.

Brydon pleaded guilty June 19 to stealing from all three estates one day before a nonjury trial was scheduled.