CHARLESTON — A federal magistrate determined a former state representative needed a public defender as he faces charges of illicitly gaining hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of clients and then taking money for himself.

Attorney Marvin Pendarvis pleaded not guilty on Nov. 18 to 11 charges related to defrauding clients, making settlements without their knowledge and forging client signatures on settlement documents. Pendarvis, who handled personal injury cases before the suspension of his law license, is accused of depositing at least $532,000 meant for clients into his firm’s bank account and not paying clients with those funds.

Pendarvis declined to comment. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and three charges related to m

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