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CRIME Former firefighter accused of theft from District 3 faces charges in Virginia Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 2:41 PM Updated Apr 15, 2016 at 4:37 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 2:41 PM Updated Apr 15, 2016 at 4:37 PM » Social News A former Jackson County Fire District 3 battalion chief accused of stealing more than $2,000 from the department is facing fraud and theft charges in Virginia. Brandon Boyd Mitchell, 43, of Fairfield, Va., has been charged with obtaining money under false pretenses and forgery of public records. A preliminary hearing on the case is scheduled for May 11, according to records from Lexington/Rockbridge General District Court. Mitchell became EMS and fire chief for Rockbridge County in October 2014, five months after being arrested in Jackson County. He wasn't indicted on the Oregon charges until Jan. 30, 2015. In Virginia, Mitchell is accused of the fraudulent sale of a vehicle that had a bank lien on it, and falsifying a county pay stub to show a higher salary to secure a bank loan on the vehicle. Mitchell is also suspected of falsifying a circuit court judge's signature on a fake court document ordering his arrest in Jackson County to be expunged, according to an April 13 story from the Lexington News-Gazette. The story said Mitchell never gave the documents to anyone, but investigators said he likely had them just in case the issue arose. Mitchell is also suspected of forging a previous supervisor's signature on a recommendation letter, the News-Gazette reported. In Jackson County, Mitchell faces two counts of first-degree theft, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and two counts of computer crime, court records show. The charges stem from allegations that Mitchell used a District 3 credit card to make more than $2,000 in purchases twice between Sept. 1, 2013, and Feb. 20, 2014. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office alleged that Mitchell used a computer to fraudulently alter invoices from Sears and Lithia Nissan. Mitchell was hired by District 3 as a battalion chief in July 2012 and resigned June 16, 2014, with the rank of interim operations chief. A department newsletter published after he was hired said he "spent 19 years in the fire service in various capacities" before moving to Jackson County from Henry County, Ga., were he served as a battalion captain and technical rescue team coordinator. Court records show Mitchell pleaded not guilty to the Jackson County charges in August 2015. A plea change hearing is scheduled for Monday. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 2:41 PM Updated Apr 15, 2016 at 4:37 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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