Skip to main content

Greenfield man sentenced to community control, ordered to make restitution in theft by deception case

By
Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press

A Greenfield man already serving community control in a separate case was sentenced to five years of community control and ordered to pay over $3,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to theft by deception.

James V. Brown Jr., 43, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in October on one count each of forgery and theft by deception, both fifth-degree felonies. He pleaded guilty to the theft charge Jan. 23, with the forgery charge dismissed.

During a period from June to July of 2023, Brown was accused of “knowingly obtaining or exerting control over” $3,450 from a victim in Highland County.

According to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, Brown received a $30 check for reimbursement. She said that Brown “deposited the check, retained the check” and changed its amount to $3,450, which he then deposited into his account through a mobile deposit. 

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Brown to five years — “the maximum” — of community control, “due to the amount of restitution.” Brown was ordered to pay the $3,450 in restitution and to have no contact with the victim. 

As previously reported, Brown was sentenced to three years of community control and ordered to pay $1,318 in restitution last August, after pleading guilty to a separate charge of theft by deception. 

In that case, it was alleged that in July 2022, Brown’s employer reported that Brown had altered a company check “by changing the amount and depositing $900 into his personal account.” The employer also alleged that Brown had “paid his cell phone bill in the amount of $121 by using the company debit card,” used the debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM and “attempted to use the debit card to book a hotel” in another state.