New Hanover County Commissioner in danger of losing home

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WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger appears to be in danger of losing his home.

WECT.com has acquired public documents filed this week with the New Hanover County Register of Deeds, showing initial steps have been taken to foreclose on Berger's property on Commons Way in Wilmington.

The mortgagors are listed as Brian Berger and Karyn Crichton. Wells Fargo Bank filed an appointment of trustee document on January 4th appointing Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC as the new trustee.

WECT spoke with a foreclosure attorney Friday, who says the foreclosure proceedings have not actually been filed yet, but that document is a first step.

"I can't go into [details about the home] for a variety of reasons, because it affects other people I care about, and there are legal, financial and other issues involved," Berger said. "I am going to do everything I can to make sure my private life stays private."

This news comes out a day after Berger was cited for speeding and driving with a suspended license in Wilmington. Berger had to park his vehicle and leave it at the scene.

Berger has been in and out of trouble with law enforcement over the last year on several issues. This latest issue of driving with a revoked licensed prompted State Representative Carolyn Justice to call for Berger to step down from public office. Justice says she swore Berger in and feels obligated to make this statement.

"He swore to uphold the law," Carolyn Justice told WECT.com. "If his license was revoked, and he made a decision to start that car and drive, he knowingly broke the law."

Berger says that he is hurt that Justice feels that way. "I have a lot of respect for Carolyn, regardless of her take on me," he said. "It certainly hurts that she feels that way. I hope she will come around, particularly as some of the truth starts to emerge from rumors and false information going around now."

Berger told WECT Friday that the suspended license issue involves an fee he did not know he owed to the county clerk of court's office, which was a result of a previous traffic charge.

Berger says he has since paid the fee, and he says his license is now reinstated.

In September, Berger's fellow commissioners also called for his resignation.