Greenfield man sentenced to community control in theft case

A Greenfield man was sentenced to community control this week after pleading guilty to theft by deception.

James V. Brown Jr., 42, was indicted in December on charges of theft by deception and forgery, both fifth-degree felonies. He pleaded guilty to the theft charge last month, according to court records.

A bill of particulars alleges 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.

During a hearing Aug. 24, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Brown to three years of community control. Coss also ordered Brown to pay $1,318 in restitution.