Pastor Pleads Guilty to Exploiting Elderly Woman

An Austin pastor accused of bilking an 82-year-old woman with dementia out of more than $40,000 has pleaded guilty to one of four felonies against him.

The Rev. David Vernon DeFor entered the plea Friday in Mower County District Court. He'd been charged in June 2013 with four felony counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. DeFor, 70, is a pastor at Austin Church of Christ.

 In exchange for the plea, the remaining charges are expected to be dismissed. Sentencing has been set for Aug. 15.

DeFor and the victim initially became friends while serving on the Salvation Army Board together about six years ago, according to the court complaint.

DeFor was granted power of attorney for the victim on July 27, 2010.
 

Authorities reviewed "voluminous documentation" during the investigation and found a number of questionable transactions.

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Church of Christ Pastor Pleads Guilty to Exploiting Elderly Woman