Pavlovic

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man faces felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $400,000 from his mother, who he had not seen in 22 years.

Bob Pavlovic, 54, is charged with one count of obtaining a signature by false pretenses and one count of financial exploitation of elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult for $1,000 or more. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $412,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Sergeant Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on July 1, Gordon responded to St. Joseph’s Hospital in regard to an 82-year-old female alleging that her son had tricked her into selling her house in Tennessee and moving to Buckhannon.

The alleged victim stated that she had sold her residence in Tennessee for approximately $412,000 and the money was transferred to a bank account belonging to Pavlovic, her son, the complaint states. Pavlovic reportedly convinced the alleged victim that the money would be safe and that it would be promptly transferred back to her.

Gordon spoke with Pavlovic, who allegedly admitted that approximately $412,000 had been deposited into his Chase Bank account on July 1. Pavlovic reportedly stated that he had an appointment set up with Chase Bank in Buckhannon to create a savings and/or checking account for the alleged victim and transfer the money back to her.

On July 2, Gordon was advised by social workers and the alleged victim that Pavlovic had stated that he was “no longer attending any appointment at Chase Bank,” the complaint states. When Gordon called Pavlovic again, Pavlovic allegedly said he had nothing to say and that Gordon should contact his attorney, but he did not provide Gordon with any contact information for an attorney.

Gordon writes in the complaint, “it should be noted that” Pavlovic had allegedly not spoken to his mother in approximately 22 years, only coming back into her life in the last year.

A preliminary hearing for Gordon has been scheduled for July 9 in Upshur County Magistrate Court.