Executive Who Stole $1.8 Million Uses Paxil Defense To Escape Jail

[matcom]

:eyes:

<snip>

TAMPA - Patrick Henry Stewart, a Tampa executive who blamed the antidepressant Paxil for his embezzling, won't be going to prison after all.

Stewart, who methodically stole $1.8-million from ex-employer Jabil Circuit over a two-year period before a subordinate caught on, was sentenced Monday to 12 months of home confinement and five years' probation. The U.S. Attorney's Office had recommended he spend 41 to 51 months behind bars.

U.S. District Court Judge James Moody Jr. said it served no one's interest to send Stewart, a father of two young girls and an older stepdaughter, to prison. He also said he believed the 42-year-old's last-ditch medical claim that he was not wholly responsible for his crime. Studies show that Paxil can cause people with bipolar disorder - Stewart's case was recently diagnosed - to behave in bizarre, arrogant and uncontrollable ways.

Stewart, who declined to be interviewed, smiled after the verdict was delivered and shared hugs with his tearful family and friends. "It's a good day at our house," his wife, Leslie, said.

But the mood was dour on the opposite side of the courtroom, where Jabil executives and prosecutors shook their heads in disbelief. Stewart, a finance professional who had check-writing responsibility, discreetly cut 179 Jabil checks to himself or his creditors. A civil court judge recently awarded the company triple damages in a separate lawsuit.

"We believe the wrong message was sent to our employees, our shareholders and the public with this sentence," Jabil spokeswoman Beth Walters said later. "We will move on knowing that Pat Stewart is a convicted felon."

In August, Stewart agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud charges in exchange for the U.S. attorney's recommendation of a reduced sentence. Last week, however, attorney Kevin Darken requested a further reduction based on the Paxil defense. The argument was bolstered by testimony from three psychiatrists, including the psychiatric research director of the University of South Florida medical school, that Stewart probably knew his actions were wrong but was unable to control them. Family members and a neighbor said Stewart changed significantly after taking Paxil.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/21/Business/Ex_Jabil_exec_won_t_g.shtml

[jpgray]

1. Cocaine is also one hell of a drug

But somehow I doubt having kids will protect an inner city possessor of it from going up for the max.