Grand Forks County (trfnews.i234.me)—In a startling case of elder financial exploitation, David Lee Cooper, 61, formerly of Grand Forks and now residing in West Fargo, has entered an Alford plea to a Class A felony theft charge for misappropriating over $116,000 from his elderly female landlord. This plea allows Cooper to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that sufficient evidence exists for a conviction.
The charges stem from incidents between 2021 and 2023, during which Cooper allegedly received substantial sums from his landlord, who was experiencing cognitive decline. Family members discovered the financial discrepancies upon reviewing her accounts. Cooper claimed ignorance of her mental state and asserted that the funds were used to assist his daughter and attend sports card shows. He also admitted to a past gambling problem but denied using the stolen money for gambling purposes.
As part of the plea agreement, felony charges of theft and exploitation of a vulnerable adult were dismissed. Cooper has been sentenced to three years of probation and community service and is required to repay $117,000 in restitution.
This case underscores the critical importance of safeguarding vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. Authorities urge families to remain vigilant and monitor the financial activities of elderly relatives to prevent similar incidents.
I’m Chris Harper, and I’m reporting for TRF News.
Did you know?
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Elder financial abuse is a growing concern, with many cases going unreported.
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Legal mechanisms like the Alford plea allow defendants to plead guilty without admitting wrongdoing.
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Community service and probation are common sentences for first-time offenders of financial crimes.