Former Lake County Deputy Public Guardian Arrested for Stealing From Client Using Information She Obtained on Her Job

lake county sheriff's iconThis is a press release from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On April 2nd, 2021, a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy was contacted by personnel from Lake County Social Services regarding the theft of debit cards from one of their offices.  The debit cards were ones that had been issued as part of the Economic Impact Payments to individuals who were under conservatorship with Social Services.  Each debit card had a value of $600.  A total of twenty one stimulus debit cards were reported missing.

During the investigation it was determined Susan Marlowe, 44, of Lakeport, a former employee of Social Services, had access to the debit cards.   Marlowe had been the Deputy Public Guardian/ Deputy Public Administrator for Lake County Adult Protective Services.   Her employment with Lake County ended on March 10th, 2021.

During the investigation into the stolen debit cards, personnel from Lake County Social Services found suspicious activity in the bank account of a Lake County resident who was under conservatorship.  Susan Marlowe was the Deputy Public Guardian/ Deputy Public Administrator who managed the conservatee.

The case was assigned to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Unit.  Detectives contacted the Lake County Department of Social Services who assisted with the investigation.  Multiple search warrants were authored to obtain business records and bank records which were related to the investigation.  A detailed examination of bank records located four large withdrawals from the conservatee’s bank account.  Additional records were obtained through a search warrants which showed the four withdrawals were used to make payments to a personal loan belonging to Marlowe.  The payments totaled approximately $5,800.

On June 10th, 2021, a search warrant was served at Marlowe’s residence in Finley.  Marlowe was contacted and interviewed.  During the interview Marlowe admitted to using between six and ten of the debit cards for her personal use.  She also admitted to using the conservatee’s bank account to make payments on her loan.

The investigation continued and additional business and bank records were sought.  Upon the receipt of the additional records, it was determined that Marlowe was responsible for three additional withdrawals from the conservatee’s bank account in December of 2019; totaling approximately $6,600.  The withdrawals were the result of three fake invoices that Marlowe created for home repairs to the conservatees residence which did not occur.

The case was forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for review.  The case was filed with the Lake County Superior Court and an arrest warrant for Marlowe was issued with a bail of $50,000.00.  Detectives attempted to arrest Marlowe on the warrant, but determined she was out of state.  On August 24th, Marlowe surrendered herself at the Lake County Superior Court and the arrest warrant was recalled.  Marlowe was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear at the Lake County Superior Courthouse on October 8th, 2021.

It is suspected that Marlowe is responsible for the theft of all of the debit cards.  Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Todd Dunia at 707-262-4232 or [email protected].

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15 Comments
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DILLIAFF
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DILLIAFF
2 years ago

Oh dear, caught like the Rat she is disgusting greedy “‘Itch”

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
2 years ago

Wow. How low. Thanks for following up on that. Where there’s one victim there will usually be more if you look closely.

Juanita
Guest
Juanita
2 years ago

Dispicible
Public guardian indeed
Jail time is warranted for this unforgivable breach of trust.

clearlakefool
Guest
clearlakefool
2 years ago

this is the reason why lots of seniors dont use those kinds of senior services available to them . they hear from others what others been told and those that can almost do it all themselves but need help say no to outside help . thats means more burdens on families that in some cases live many hundreds if not a thousand miles away .
im only 200 miles from mom and she is 91and refuses that kinda help because of those problems . i visit as often as possible to make sure she doing what she needs to do but on fixed income , its hard at times

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
2 years ago
Reply to  clearlakefool

Under the LPS law, you can be placed under conservatorship by court action if your mental state makes you unable to feed yourself, pay rent, buy essentials, etc. but you are physically mobile and non-violent. Not a lawyer, but that’s the gist of it. Your money is controlled by a Public Guardian or Conservator for your benefit, by law. You don’t have a choice.

This is a gross violation of fiduciary responsibility and trust and, if found guilty, the suspect should get the max.

VMG
Guest
VMG
2 years ago

Conservancy is an interesting industry.

Most of the people being “conserved” are also being robbed, in many ways…

In America, people who exploit one another are said to have “good instincts”, and exploitation is known by another name:

Business.

Percy vs Goliath
Guest
Percy vs Goliath
2 years ago

Just another example of one person who got caught.

It’s human nature to want a better life.

In a predatory world, there are those who exploit opportunity, unfairly.

It’s those who bend, and break the rules at the expense of others who are the root of good people’s suffering.

Predators have always exploited the kindness of others.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34011026

M
Guest
M
2 years ago

Who hired that person?

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
2 years ago

Public Guardian
The Public Guardian serves as the Court-appointed conservator for adults who are determined to be gravely disabled due to a mental or medical illness and, as a result are unable to provide for their own basic needs. There are two types of Conservatorships; Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorships and Probate Conservatorships. LPS Conservatorships are established for individuals who are gravely disabled as a result of mental illness.

The Public Guardian works in partnership with Lake County Behavioral Health for all LPS Conservatorships. An LPS Conservatorship lasts for one year; if necessary, the Public Guardian can petition the Court to renew the conservatorship. Probate Conservatorships are established for individuals determined disabled as a result of a medical illness. The Public Guardian is generally appointed as conservator when there are no family members who are willing or able to be appointed. A conservator may be responsible for the estate, the person, or both the estate and the person.

Mee
Guest
Mee
2 years ago

Needs to go to prison for life. I doubt the victims will ever get their money back.

M
Guest
M
2 years ago

How does the Lake County Criminal Court release her without bail on an OR after she fled the state and evaded arrest for months? This is what privilege looks like folks. It’s not just about race. It’s government officials giving other former government officials charged with crimes privilege. The 50,000 bail was ridiculously low for her crimes and then this judge rescinded the bail making it ZERO! The deputy took an oath and she preyed on the vulnerable and stole from them and the government. She was dipping into the elderly’s bank accounts. Zero bail? Who is this judge? I want to know.

lenny
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lenny
2 years ago
Reply to  M

you have to live in Lake County to understand !

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
2 years ago

No worse than the Hunboldt County coroner stealing from dead people.
What ever happened with that case?

Ryan Burns / Tuesday, July 9, 2019 @ 4:29 p.m. / Government
The State Corruption Investigation Into Humboldt’s Public Administrator Bureau Seems to Have Fallen Into a Black Hole
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2019/jul/9/state-corruption-investigation-humboldts-public-ad/

Leroy
Guest
Leroy
2 years ago

The exploitation is happening here in Humboldt, too.

Jzlynn
Guest
Jzlynn
2 years ago

The lowest of the low. Such a breach of trust.