A once-prominent criminal defense attorney who gave up his law license over allegations that he stole his clients’ money has conceded that the state has enough evidence to beat him.

Gary Bertoni, who made a name representing high-profile juvenile defendants, pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree theft during a brief hearing Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

The plea deal, which doesn’t require Bertoni to admit any guilt but still results in conviction, says the ex-attorney owes nearly $29,000 in restitution to former clients.

The deal stipulates that Bertoni’s conviction will be treated as a misdemeanor, not a felony — as long as he pays back the money and completes 80 hours of community service within six months.

The final punishment will be three years of probation, assuming the terms of the deal are followed during a sentencing hearing set for late January before Judge Christopher Marshall.

The 72-year-old Bertoni, who now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, entered his plea by telephone, saying he was unable to access a video link. “No contest” means the defendant acknowledges that prosecutors could prove the case against him.

Court papers indicate Bertoni owes $5,000 in restitution to Martin R. Olmos, who had given Bertoni the cash to represent him in a third-degree assault case out of Clackamas County in 2018. Bertoni took the case, but didn’t return the money when his law license was suspended for 18 months shortly before trial, according to a memo filed by prosecutors.

Court papers don’t specify who will receive the lion’s share of the restitution, though the other victim listed in the indictment is Angela Canell-Thomas, who had hired Bertoni in an ID theft case.

Bertoni was originally charged with six theft counts in 2020, the same year he surrendered his law license, ending a 40-year legal career.

His license was previously suspended for 150 days in 2012 following accusations from the Oregon State Bar that he had wrongly appropriated $44,000 that had been set aside for defense expenses for clients. He later returned the money, The Oregonian/OregonLive previously reported, and the state bar couldn’t prove the allegations.

A federal judge also sentenced Bertoni to probation, community service, home detention and $181,000 in restitution in 2018 for failing to pay employment taxes. The Oregon Supreme Court suspended his law license again that year for 18 months, citing “a pattern of disregard for the interests of his clients.”

Bertoni’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

—Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

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