Chula Vista

A Chula Vista attorney pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzlement in a case involving theft from a client.

The drug case against Larry Byron Croyle, 49, was dismissed in San Diego Superior Court after Croyle pleaded guilty in the second case involving theft of funds from a client for whom he had won an out-of court settlement.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Collins said he would be seeking a one-year jail term for Croyle at his sentencing on Feb. 11.

Croyle could be disbarred as a result of his felony conviction. The state bar has requested particulars on the case, according to records.

Collins said Croyle received a settlement of approximately $6,000 for a client in a traffic-injury lawsuit. Croyle cashed the check at a liquor store, said Collins.

“It’s not what an attorney normally does,” said the prosecutor about Croyle’s cashing the settlement check there.

Collins said Croyle gave his client $1,000 in cash, paid an employee another $1,000, but kept the rest.

As this case was pending, Croyle was arrested Aug. 1 on possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence of the drugs when an undercover officer posing as a prospective client offered Croyle one-quarter of a gram of methamphetamine as payment for his services, police report.

Croyle remains free on $4,000 bond.