Former Austin Code officer accused of deed forgery, taking woman’s property

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A gentleman who utilised to operate for the Metropolis of Austin’s Code Enforcement Office is accused of forging an aged woman’s signature on a deed doc to transfer it to himself soon prior to she died. An arrest affidavit also alleges he “intentionally dismissed multiple code violations” on the south Austin home “with the expectation he would be capable to believe ownership after she passed (with a forged signature).”

Alan Deshon Guyton, 37, is accused of “forgery deed record” and theft of house of considerably less than $300,000, in accordance to on the internet court records. 

There is no law firm stated for Guyton, but KXAN attained out to a business enterprise he owns that was referenced in the affidavit. That e mail bounced.

A household member of the girl submitted a complaint with the City Auditor’s Integrity Device, accusing Guyton of forging her signature when filing a quitclaim deed executed in February 2021 and submitted with the County Clerk’s Workplace in June 2021, an arrest affidavit claimed. As LegalZoom points out, a quitclaim deed is a “fast way to transfer home to a consumer,” but doesn’t provide the consumer any protections. This deed granted Guyton “all appropriate, title and desire in and to” the house, according to the affidavit.

The lady died inside a week of the deed getting executed. The authentic grievance to the Metropolis Auditor’s business office didn’t point out an problem that fell less than its purview, according to Main of Investigations Brian Molloy, but he said the office “knew appropriate away” it would refer the case to the Austin Police Division. APD began investigating in November 2021. An APD investigator in comparison the woman’s driver’s license file and Social Security card signatures to that on the quitclaim deed, and it did not match.

That household member, as perfectly as two other individuals who understood the girl, explained to Austin law enforcement she desired to depart her home to loved ones and did not intend to promote it to anyone. A witness explained to law enforcement she typically saw Guyton at the home, that he acquired mail there and experienced altered the locks and put in protection cameras due to the fact the female died.

KXAN arrived at out to the Austin Code Office for aspects on Guyton’s work and why he experienced been put on administrative depart in advance of he still left in April 2021, according to the affidavit. The agency directed KXAN to file a general public data request and explained it “has no comment” on the allegation that he dismissed code violations. 

The Metropolis Auditor’s Business also prepared to discuss that specific allegation soon after learning about it Friday and identified Monday it will examine the scenario further, as well, given that it is tasked with hunting into claims of fraud, squander or abuse associated to the town, according to Molloy.

Previous Town Auditor Investigation

Molloy also pointed out Guyton was the subject matter of a past investigation from the City Auditor’s Office. It received a idea in November 2018 and found he used his town laptop and automobile for personalized business enterprise. The metropolis also necessitates people today to explain to it if they are working any place else, and the report said Guyton disclosed he owned a tow truck corporation but did not point out his investment decision or events corporation.

In a response, Guyton explained, “I can guarantee the inhabitants of Austin and City management that I have in no way misused town resources to gain economically. As talked about above, I maintain my position as Code Inspector C in high regard, and I would not do nearly anything to jeopardize my key employment.”

At the time, the City of Austin acknowledged the report in a letter to the Metropolis Auditor’s Office and claimed it would deal with any violations “with proper and proportional disciplinary actions” but did not elaborate.