Son Charged in Stealing from His Father

By Howard Yune/Appeal-Democrat

A Biggs man faces elder abuse and other charges after his arrest on suspicion of looting more than $9,800 from his parents.

Gridley-Biggs police arrested 27-year-old James Richard Mossman at 7 p.m. Wednesday at his home.

He was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on suspicion of grand theft, forgery and elder abuse. An arraignment hearing is set for today in Butte County Superior Court.

The charges stem from accusations Mossman diverted money from bank accounts belonging to his parents, who police described as a 65-year-old woman and a wheelchair-bound man in his 70s. The family lives in the 2900 block of Fourth Street.

Police said Mossman used checks and a debit card to withdraw $9,811 in the past six months. Most of the money was gambled away at two Oroville-area casinos and probably cannot be recovered, according to Brian Cook, the assistant police chief.

Mossman’s mother discovered the losses Tuesday while reviewing balance statements and notified police, who arrested her son the next day, Cook said.

Bail was set at $20,000 for the theft charges and a Placer County warrant for driving under the influence.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Howard Yune can be reached at 749-4708. You may e-mail him at hyune@appealdemocrat.com