A Lebanon father and son were arrested Tuesday, Aug. 31, after a lengthy investigation into the theft of funds from their 81-year-old mother and grandmother, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday, Sept. 2.
According to a news release, detectives had received information regarding the incident in November 2020 and began looking into thousands of dollars missing from Sharon Steele, who has since passed away. After subpoenaing financial records, detectives determined that Michael Alan Gunnett, 58, had reportedly stolen more than $220,000 over a three-year period, and that his son, 38-year-old Michael Shane Gunnett, was reportedly responsible for the disappearance of more than $115,000 in an 18-month period.
The older Gunnett was arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree criminal mistreatment. His son was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
Both men were lodged in the Linn County Jail.
