In an interview Monday, Stinson declined to discuss any of the cases against him, but he did describe how the care of his son and his busy practice overwhelmed him.
Linda and John Bustin, a couple from Ridley Township, Delaware County, said they were desperate to get educational services for their son's reading difficulties when they turned to Stinson, who was "very highly recommended."
"He was an up-and-coming lawyer making very large steps in special education," Linda Bustin said. The Bustins' case is one of the two for which charges were filed yesterday, authorities said. The other involves a Philadelphia woman, Jacqueline Bihler, who is still owed the return of a $2,500 retainer from Stinson.
The Bustins gave Stinson a $1,000 retainer to take their case against the Ridley School District. The district settled, agreeing to provide a tutor for their son and reimbursing Stinson's legal fees, the mother said.
Stinson said he would return their $1,000 retainer last year. They are still waiting, they said. And they are not alone.
According to court papers, the Bustins and two other families are waiting for a total of $6,720; a fourth family finally got their son's $23,767 tuition payment and reimbursement for legal fees and evaluations after months of calls and letters to Stinson.
Stinson, a former New Hampshire police officer who has been on electronic home monitoring since he failed to appear in court and was arrested in July, has also been charged with writing up to $6,500 in bad checks and with check fraud that cost two banks more than $7,000 each.
"The victims weren't only his clients but also his employees and the financial institutions," said Sgt. Joseph Ryan of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division.
