VIDALIA — A Georgia attorney is behind bars as a result of 3 felony charges relating the theft and forgery.

The Savannah Morning News is reporting Vidalia attorney Wilson Randolph Smith remains locked up in the Toombs County Detention Center pending a bond request related to charges of theft by conversion and two counts of forgery.

Smith was arrested Tuesday after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation looked into allegations Smith had taken a $500,000 settlement on behalf of a client, but never notified the client he had done so, thereby keeping the funds for himself.

Smith has requested bond, but Superior Court Judge Kathy Palmer directed any bond petitions to Judge Robert Reeves instead.  Judge Palmer has also yet to take a plea from Smith.  She stated in the report she would contact the state Bar to expedite the Georgia Supreme Court to appoint a judge for the case.

In addition to the criminal charges, an area lawyer filed a legal malpractice suit against Smith on behalf of the defrauded clients, who were engaged in a medical malpractice suit which had been settled without their knowledge.  Smith had received funds and held them, according to Savannah Morning News reports, for at least 16 months, even telling them the case would be going to trial.

Several Southeast Georgia area attorneys have been outraged by Smith’s behavior, calling for investigations and more strict enforcement of laws, regulations and standards to which attorneys are held.