Mental health worker charged with falsifying medical records in SLO County teen’s death
One of the employees on duty the evening a Paso Robles teen died in the Crisis Stabilization Unit in San Luis Obispo allegedly forged medical records at least five times during the teen’s overnight stay, according to new criminal charges filed last week.
Janet Marie Brown, 40, worked as a licensed psychiatric technician for Sierra Mental Wellness Group, the company contracted to run the county Crisis Stabilization Unit — where 19-year-old Elina Branco was found dead on the morning of May 16, 2024, after her mother Linda Cooper brought her to the facility to be closely monitored following an overdose the previous day.
Brown was “one of several staff on duty at the Crisis Stabilization Unit last year when a 19-year-young patient died of fentanyl poisoning within 24 hours of being admitted as a patient,” San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow told The Tribune in an email.
She was charged with 10 misdemeanor counts of altering medical records with fraudulent intent in relation to Branco’s death, Dow said. Five of the counts are under the penal code while the other five are charged under the business and professions code, court records show.
The charges are connected to five alleged instances of forgery in Branco’s medical record, Dow said, adding that charging under both the penal and the business and professions codes are two ways to charge for the same act.
According to a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed in September, Branco’s mother alleged that Crisis Stabilization Unit staff falsified records and repeatedly lied to her after an autopsy showed Branco had died at least eight hours before the Crisis Stabilization Unit called for medical help, despite the fact that records showed she had been checked on at least five times overnight and found to be alive and well.
Dow clarified that the agency is not alleging that the forged medical records caused Branco’s death. He added that the alleged forgery was discovered while the District Attorney’s Office was reviewing the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office investigation of Branco’s death.
The District Attorney’s Office received the case for review on Aug. 20, Dow said.
Brown was among several defendants named in the federal lawsuit, including the county, Sierra Mental Wellness Group and other employees of both entities. All defendants in the case have denied any wrong-doing, court records show.
The Crisis Stabilization Unit has since closed due to its lack of use, San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health deputy director Frank Warren told The Tribune. The county plans to use the building for youth crisis rehabilitation, Warren said, adding the closure was unrelated Branco’s death.
Jon Ansolabehere, San Luis Obispo County counsel, confirmed to the Tribune that Brown was not a county employee but rather worked for Sierra Mental Wellness Group. He said the county is aware of the criminal charges and “will be fully cooperating in the prosecution of the case.”
Sierra Mental Wellness Group did not immediately respond to The Tribune’s request for comment.
Brown’s arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, court records show.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM.
