HILO — During a hearing Tuesday, a former vice chairman of the state Real Estate Commission pleaded no contest to theft after being charged last year with embezzling more than $200,000 from clients.
As part of a plea agreement, Scott A. Sherley changed his plea on a charge of first-degree theft from not guilty to no contest. His sentence will be determined in February.
Sherley, formerly the Hawaii Island representative of the Real Estate Commission between 2010 and 2016, was charged in December 2017 after he and his wife, Penny Sherley, were accused of misappropriating funds from two clients between 2011 and 2015.
The two Sherleys were accused of embezzling $135,633 from the revocable living trust of Edward Pereira and Frances Pereira, as well as an additional $80,000 from the Kawili Regency condominium owners’ association.
Scott Sherley could be sentenced to up to 10 years of imprisonment, fined up to $25,000 or both. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25.
Penny Sherley received similar charges as her husband and pleaded not guilty in January. Her trial date is set for Feb. 7.