On behalf of the City of Forest Grove, our City Council and our employees, I wanted to take a moment to express our deep gratitude... more
City Hall
Arrests in Elder Abuse and Fraud Investigation
On September 9, 2011, Robert Browning, 66, of Forest Grove was booked at the Washington County Jail on a secret indictment arrest warrant for seven counts of Criminal Mistreatment I. The indictment stems from allegations regarding Mr. Browning’s handling of the finances of a senior citizen in Forest Grove when he served as their Power of Attorney. The victim, who was related to Mr. Browning by marriage, has since died.
Mr. Browning’s arrests caps a fourteen-month investigation that came to the attention of the Forest Grove Police Department from Adult Protection Services in July of 2010. The collaborative investigation included consultation and assistance from the Attorney General’s Office, Oregon Department of Justice, Adult Protection Services, and investigators from the Oregon State Bar.
Forest Grove Police Detectives additionally arrested the secretary of Mr. Browning’s law firm, Amy Moore, on charges of Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. Ms. Moore’s alleged criminal activity came to light during the investigation of Mr. Browning and stems from the use of a credit card from a deceased client of Browning’s law firm. Forest Grove Police Detectives began investigating a series of financial transactions that occurred in June and July of 2010, approximately one year after the client/victim had died.
Both Browning and Moore turned themselves in to detectives at the Washington County Jail this date. Their arraignment will be on September 20, 2011 at 08:30 am.