CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — The case of a former city attorney charged with theft and other offenses related to his advocacy of families in probate matters may conclude later this year.

A special prosecutor told the News-Press Friday he is poring over information that would establish restitution by Scott A. Washburn, a 32-year-old Kansas City resident. Mr. Washburn resigned in mid-December as city attorney for Chillicothe, Mo. He quit the job after financial allegations surfaced involving his handling of two estates through his private legal practice. In late March, the Missouri Supreme Court disbarred him from working as an attorney in the state.

Mr. Washburn pleaded innocent to two felony counts of theft, one count of forgery, and three counts of passing a bad check from 2007. He is represented by Plattsburg, Mo., attorney George Pickett.

Circuit Judge Stephen Griffin set Mr. Washburn’s next court appearance for Aug. 15.

DeKalb County Prosecutor Bart Spear, who has been appointed special prosecutor, said it’s possible the case could wrap up sometime this year. One factor will be calculating the amount of restitution to victims, he said. Talks with a Putnam County probate judge will help determine relief that should be given to family members.

“I’m still working through all that,” Mr. Spear said after court. “I’m getting close to making up my mind about this case.”

Any plea offer that might potentially be negotiated with Mr. Washburn would have to include restitution, he said.

“I have not extended that yet,” he added.

The charges in part detail allegations that Mr. Washburn deposited funds from the estates to cover paychecks he wrote for his office staff’s payroll. The offenses also accuse him of wrongly using money from the estate.

“It appears that he was basically living a large lifestyle for about a year,” Mr. Spear said. “He was basically using that money to support him and his family.”

A probable cause statement alleges that Mr. Washburn misappropriated about $180,000 from the Putnam County estate. The other probate case is from Livingston County.

Mr. Spear met with family members after court to update the case’s progress.

Mr. Washburn was first elected as Chillicothe’s attorney in 2005 and was re-elected in April 2007.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.