Carthage man pleads guilty to cheating elderly victim

A Carthage man pleaded guilty this week to financial exploitation of an elderly Webb City resident.

Brian E. Neher, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge at a hearing Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court in a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office. The state has agreed to dismiss a related count of receiving stolen property in exchange for the guilty plea.

Circuit Judge Gayle Crane delayed formal acceptance or rejection of the plea deal and ordered a sentencing assessment of the defendant. The judge set a sentencing hearing for Sept. 10.

A probable-cause affidavit filed by Detective Keith Meyer, with the Webb City Police Department, states that Neher accepted $2,500 cash and a check for $1,400 as payment for the purchase and installation of Ruud 80,000 BTU heating and air conditioning unit at the victim's residence on Goldpan Drive.

The affidavit states that Neher never installed any unit for the victim and never returned any of the money.

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Carthage man pleads guilty to cheating elderly victim