MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - A $1 million bond was set Tuesday for a Brookfield attorney who skipped a court appearance where he was expected to plead guilty to theft by fraud.
Thomas Bielinski was supposed to appear in court December 19th but didn't.
Sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshals arrested him two days later when he was attending a Mass at Holy Hill near Hartford.
The 52-year-old Bielinski was charged in August with stealing almost $550,000 in unclaimed funds kept by Milwaukee County courts. Prosecutors said Bielinski claimed to represent the rightful owners of the money.
A new plea hearing is set for February 27th in Milwaukee, and he's expected to be sentenced the same day.
Circuit Judge J.D. Watts said Bielinski's failure to appear in court last month was "egregious." His lawyer, Michael Hart, did not object to a high bond.
