San Diego

An El Cajon attorney was sentenced Friday to three years in state prison for stealing more than $40,000 from a client’s trust fund account. Donald Helmer, 44, was given the term by San Diego Municipal Court Judge Nicholas Kasimatis. Helmer pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to grand theft in the losses sustained by his client Darlene Love, which came to $40,269.83. Nine other grand theft charges involving losses of more than $60,000 by nine other clients were dismissed. Helmer’s law offices were in Kearny Mesa and Mission Valley, and most of his clients were from San Diego. Helmer will return to federal court Monday to face sentencing for bankruptcy fraud and contempt of court in an unrelated case. Kasimatis ruled that Friday’s sentence would run concurrently with whatever time, if any, Helmer gets from U. S. District Judge Gordon Thompson. According to Helmer’s probation report, the attorney attributed his actions to a mismanagement of his offices and a need to get cash quickly.