News Release from the Newport PD. The Newport Police Department received information from a board member of the Lincoln County Employees Association (LCEA) that a significant amount of money was missing from the bank account. The person suspected of the embezzlement was the Association’s treasurer, Brian Fine, age 25 of Waldport. An investigation was conducted, and the evidence presented to the Lincoln County Grand Jury by a Linn County Deputy District Attorney. Fine was indicted by the Grand Jury on six counts of Theft in the First Degree. Fine was taken into custody without incident by the Newport Police Department April 11, 2014 when he turned himself in at the Police Department. Fine was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on an indictment warrant; his bail was set at $150,000. Due to the nature of this case, the investigation and reports were kept confidential. The Linn County District Attorney recently lifted the confidential status of the investigation. The investigation is continuing.
