While an elderly Canyonville man considered whether to bail his in-home caretaker out of jail, he made a startling discovery. His aide appeared to have stolen $700 from him.

The man told a Douglas County deputy on May 28 that his caretaker of about two years, 54-year-old Randy G. Mendenhall, was the only person who knew about the $3,200 he kept in a suitcase under his bed, according to a probable cause affidavit. The man said he revealed the location of the stash in case something happened to him and that he trusted Mendenhall.

The deputy told the man that Mendenhall was arrested May 21 on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, pointing a firearm at another person, menacing and unlawful possession of heroin. Court documents say a driver accused Mendenhall of pointing a pistol at him as they were driving past each other.

The elderly man told the deputy he didn't know Mendenhall had a gun. But about 30 minutes after their phone conversation ended, the man called the deputy again. The .40 caliber pistol he kept under his bed was missing, the affidavit said.

The deputy and the man were able to determine the gun Mendenhall was accused of pointing at the other motorist was the missing pistol, the affidavit said.

The deputy spoke to Mendenhall while he was being held in the Douglas County Jail and the 54-year-old claimed the elderly man gave him the pistol in January because the man was considering killing himself, the affidavit said. Mendenhall said he did not make any prior reports documenting his client as suicidal.

The client denied Mendenhall's claims, according to the affidavit. Mendenhall was indicted Tuesday on additional charges of criminal mistreatment and first- and second-degree theft.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey