WICHITA– A retired financial adviser was sentenced to 38 months in prison Tuesday for taking more than $800,000 out of two trust funds belonging to a retired widow, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Walter "Bud" Hollis, 73 of Wichita, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of felony theft for embezzling the money between 2014 and 2018. Hollis managed the trust funds for the 75-year-old victim who had been his client for several years.
The victim stated in court Tuesday that she trusted Hollis to manage her estate after her husband died. She told the judge the theft destroyed her sense of security in retirement and denied her children and step children their inheritance.
Hollis read a statement to the judge asking for probation and blaming the theft on a difficult upbringing and a gambling addiction. Hollis said probation would be more appropriate due to his age and medical issues.
In denying the request for probation, the judge stated that prison was appropriate because Hollis destroyed the financial security of someone who trusted him to protect her money. The judge also ordered Hollis to pay $822,322.15 to the victim.