THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 26, 1996 TAG: 9603260315
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
A judge on Monday had the final word in the bizarre case of millionaire Celia Stern, the 93-year-old woman who died in 1992 with no husband, no children, two wills and a $5.5 million estate.
The end came quietly in a courtroom with few spectators. It came with friends praising the honesty and loyalty of William Stafford, the man who cared for Stern in her dying days but was convicted of forging her will.
It came, finally, with the first hint of why Stafford would want to forge Stern's will: He owed $150,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
The final word came from Circuit Judge Frederick B. Lowe, who rejected Stafford's last-minute plea to reduce the charges against him to misdemeanors and impose probation.
Instead, Lowe kept the three felony charges against Stafford for forging a will and a deed, and gave the 50-year-old insurance agent a two-year suspended sentence.
The judge was not swayed by four character witnesses for Stafford, including veteran trial lawyer Richard G. Brydges.
``The court is of the opinion that these offenses are serious offenses,'' Lowe said.
It may be, Lowe said, that the crimes were out of character for Stafford, and that Stafford committed them in ``a momentary lapse of good judgment,'' but ``these are serious offenses, nonetheless.''
Stafford declined to comment. He said simply ``No, sir'' when the judge asked if he had anything to say.
Prosecutor Albert D. Alberi agreed that Stafford had led an otherwise good life. But, Alberi argued, Stafford forged the will and a deed to Stern's condo because he needed money to pay his $150,000 IRS debt. It is not known how the debt was incurred.
The sentence followed a plea agreement between Alberi and Larry B. Slipow, Stafford's lawyer. The sentence was in line with state guidelines, which do not recommend jail for forgers.
So ended a case described as unusual by everyone involved.
It began with Stern's death at home in Oceans Condominium on Dec. 21, 1992. She had $5.5 million, mostly in stocks and bonds, some in property in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Washington.
Two wills emerged.
Norfolk lawyer Peter G. Decker Jr. held one, signed 10 months before Stern's death. Stafford held the other, supposedly signed three weeks before Stern's death.
The wills were identical in every way but one. Both gave away all money to charity. The Stafford will, however, named a non-profit group headed by Stafford as an acceptable recipient of her money.
Stafford also held a deed in which Stern supposedly gave him the condominium as a gift.
A nasty court battle followed. Decker and Stafford sued each other.
Nearly a year later, two men who supposedly ``witnessed'' the Stafford will and deed admitted in court that they actually had signed the documents after Stern died, in Stafford's home, and did not see her sign the papers.
One said Stafford bribed them by promising college scholarships for their daughters. As a result, a judge invalidated the Stafford will. Since then, Decker has given away or pledged all the money to dozens of local and national charities.
Last year, Stafford was indicted on charges of forging the will, forging the deed and uttering the deed, or offering it as authentic.
In January, Stafford pleaded guilty to all charges. He entered an Alford plea, meaning he agreed that the evidence against him was strong enough for a conviction but maintained he really didn't do it.
On Monday, Slipow argued that Stafford was ``a very, very compassionate person'' who helped care for others after the death of his wife from cancer at age 34.
A friend, Richard L. Gray, testified that he went with Stafford to Stern's apartment three times and saw Stafford clean the home, make meals for Stern and help her in other ways.
Brydges, who has represented both Stafford and Stern, testified, ``I don't think I've seen a caregiver with the depth of compassion he (Stafford) had.''
Brydges described Stern as a peculiar woman, thrifty and hard to please. She changed her will repeatedly, Brydges said. ``We sent her a bill and that was the end of the relationship,'' he testified.
After the testimony, Lowe called the sentence ``appropriate . . . taking into account Mr. Stafford's good background.''
Not everyone was pleased.
``I just feel it was wrong. I feel justice has not been done,'' said Lee Smith Conduff, Stern's neighbor and best friend. ``He (Stafford) should have been punished.''
Decker was also displeased.
``Mr. Stafford's lawyer did very well by accepting that plea agreement. I think a jury would have absolutely buried Mr. Stafford after hearing all the evidence,'' Decker said. ``But from the standpoint of the executor, I'm pleased it is over.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Friends described William Stafford as an honest man.
Graphic
A CHRONOLOGY OF THE STERN/ STAFFORD CASE:
Feb. 17, 1992: Celia Stern signs first will with Peter Decker.
Dec. 1, 1992: Stern purportedly signs second will with Bill
Stafford.
Dec. 18, 1992: Stern purportedly signs condo deed to Stafford.
Dec. 21, 1992: Stern dies.
Dec. 21, 1992: Decker files first will in court.
Dec. 22, 1992: Stafford records condo deed in court.
Dec. 30, 1992: Decker sues Stafford.
Jan. 26, 1993: Stafford sues Decker.
October 1993: Two Stafford will ``witnesses'' confess. Judge
voids will.
April 1995: Stafford indicted.
January 1995: Stafford pleads guilty.
Monday: Stafford sentenced.
KEYWORDS: LAWSUIT TRIAL FORGERY WILL SENTENCING by CNB