Butler County is paying nearly $6,000 to a disbarred Butler attorney who is serving a prison sentence for stealing more than $544,000 from three estates he settled.

The county is paying Samuel “Joe” Brydon, 58, of Slippery Rock $5,985 for more than 66 hours of work he recorded as the former juvenile court master.

The work was done between Dec. 1 and 19 in 2011, the final weeks he served in that job. Brydon was paid $90 an hour. He did not receive county benefits.

County President Judge Thomas Doerr on Monday issued a court order for the payment to Brydon.

County Controller Ben Holland said he was asked to pay the invoice, which had been first submitted years ago.

“I refused to pay it without a court order,” Holland said.

He said the controller's office under prior Controller Jack McMillin questioned how those hours could be verified based on the invoice.

The hours worked each day were recorded solely by the total amount, which varied between less than an hour and eight hours, with no specific time of day.

Holland said he agreed with McMillin and the controller's staff that such an invoice could not be verified.

Since 2012, the juvenile court master logs hours worked on a more detailed sheet. Holland said that process prevented the issue from arising again.

However, Brydon's invoice was left unpaid as the legal case against him moved forward.

Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, said Doerr issued the order because Holman asked Holland what it would take to have the bill paid. Holman said no one asked for a court order before Holland took office this year.

Brydon is serving a prison term of 9 to 18 months in county prison after being convicted of three counts of felony theft.

Although he received three separate prison terms last August, he will serve them concurrently.

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

Although most of the stolen money was repaid, $76,000 of the total $368,389 still was owed to the John N. Davis estate as of the sentencing.

The order does not specify any portion of the payment be given to the Davis estate.

Holman said the court's community corrections department signed off on Brydon's hours, so Doerr was satisfied they were accurate.

Holman pointed out Brydon was replaced as soon as his problems arose.

“Once the court was made aware charges were forthcoming, the judge moved immediately to remove him from the post,” Holman said.

Holland also asked the county commissioners to sign off on the invoice.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said the county has to follow the court order.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed.

“We didn't have a choice,” Pinkerton said.

McCarrier voiced no objection to the payment.

“If Joe did perform that work, I'm sure he deserves to be paid,” McCarrier said.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein was not pleased with the result.

“I was disappointed the court ordered payment,” Eckstein said. “My hands were tied.”