TYLER, Texas — A Tyler lawyer accused of taking over $235,000 from one of his divorce clients was arrested Friday.
Bruce Bain, 56, of Tyler, was charged with property theft between $150,000 and $300,000 and booked into the Smith County Jail. He was released after posting a $500 bond.
According to an arrest affidavit, a woman reported to police that Bain was her lawyer when she was divorcing from her now ex-husband. Her cut from the assets that were sold through the divorce totaled $235,551.44. She said that money was placed into a trust account under the law firm's name until the divorce was finished.
After the divorce process was complete, she still hadn't received the money. She told police Bain told her multiple times that the money was coming via a check in the mail, but she never received it, the affidavit said.
On one occasion, the woman said Bain told her the money was already spent, and he could send her a check but she couldn't cash it. She said her ex-husband received his portion of the money. She told the investigator when she would call Bain, he wouldn't answer, according to the document.
Bain told police that he hasn't been able to give the woman her money because there was a hold on his account. He believed the hold was placed on his account just before the woman's divorce became final. He said he would call the investigator with more information about his bank account, the affidavit stated.
The arrest document showed a subpoena was issued for records of the trust account. This showed there were multiple transfers from this account to two others, which were identified as a checking account and a savings account both for the law firm. The writer of the document then requested a warrant for Bain's arrest.
According to the State Bar of Texas website, Bain has been a licensed Texas attorney since 1994.