LANSING – A Coldwater man is facing multiple charges.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says 63 year old James Michael O’Briant was arraigned in Kalamazoo County 8th District Court on four counts of Larceny Exceeding $20,000, along with two counts of Taxes Failure To File/False Return.

It’s alleged that O’Briant took over $100,000 that belonged to a 95 year old client of the law firm where he was employed. O’Briant had a representation agreement with the victim, and had agreed to temporarily hold the victim’s money in the firm’s trust account for safekeeping. O’Briant allegedly transferred the victim’s money from the trust account into the firm’s business accounts, and then withdrew and transferred the money again to use for his own purposes.

The transfers included over $40,000 to O’Briant’s personal investment accounts. He allegedly did not report the money he is accused of stealing from the victim on his taxes in 2018 and 2019.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for August 22. Each count of larceny is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Each tax offense is also a felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment.