Merritt Island attorney behind bars

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A 41-year-old Merritt Island attorney was arrested Thursday for keeping a $100,000 settlement that was supposed to be given to the son of an Iowa resident who died in a car crash in 2006.

Andrew William Meynhart was hired to handle the proceedings following the death of John Julius LaRoche Taylor, who died while vacationing in Brevard County. Funds from the settlement were supposed to be transferred to administrator handling the account of the 9-year-old heir.

Authorities said between May 2007 and March 2009, Meynhart never forwarded the proceeds of the settlement and even forwarded fabricated copies of his trust account statements to the Taylor estate attorney in Iowa.

In Jan. 2009, Meynhart assured the Brevard County Court that he would transfer the $100,000 settlement to the law firm representing the Taylor estate, but no funds were ever transferred.

Meynhar was formally charged with one count of grand theft and was booked into the Brevard County Jail on a $15,000 bond.