Grand jury to hear testimony in elderly exploitation case

Kevin Saffold

Following a four-hour preliminary hearing, financial exploitation of the elderly charges against a Dothan man have been bound over to a Houston County grand jury.

Kevin Saffold is charged with three counts of financial exploitation after a 79-year-old woman told police Saffold told her to purchase two vehicles for him and that he would help increase her credit score so she could get a home mortgage.

Other charges against Saffold -- one count of second-degree theft of property and one count of second-degree possession of forged instruments – have been continued.

Dothan Police Investigator Daniel Grantham told the court the victim had contacted the police, stating she had received calls from a financial institution where two vehicles were financed in her name.

The state believes the victim did not understand fully what she was doing at the time she purchased the vehicles. Prosecutor Mark Johnson also stated with the victim being on Social Security, she did not have the means to make the payments.

Dothan Police first began an investigation into Saffold after an elderly exploitation complaint came in back in June. The victim claimed Saffold represented himself to be a paralegal and suggested she purchase two costly vehicles in order to build her credit and be able to qualify for a home purchase.

According to police, Saffold told the woman he would make the payments on the vehicles, a 2016 Dodge Ram Truck with a purchase price of $43,888.25 and a 2015 BMW X1 in the amount of $30,846.24. The purchases were made within two days of each other.

Police said no payments were made on the vehicles.

Representing himself, Saffold cross-examined the Grantham, showing the witness receipts from vehicle payments.

Saffold asked Grantham did he contact any of the financial institutions inquiring if the accounts were up-to-date, Grantham stated he had not. Saffold then presented a registration receipt for the Houston County Tag Office, authorizing Saffold to tag the vehicle in the victim’s name.

During the course of the investigation, police said they received a complaint that Saffold was in possession of a voided vehicle title. Police said Saffold pawned the title to a Lincoln car in the amount of $2,175 in July of this year, but it had been previously pawned a week earlier at a different title loan business. Police said no payments were made to the title loan businesses.

Court records show Title Cash sued Saffold in October, seeking possession of a 2007 Lincoln MKX-V6, or $4,500 as cash value of the property. This case is still proceeding.

During the investigation it was also determined Saffold allegedly represented himself as a family member of the 79-year-old victim at a local dental office, where he allegedly obtained dental work after having the victim sign the paperwork.

The alleged incident occurred between March 30 and June 13.

During Friday’s preliminary hearing Saffold presented paperwork stating payments were also being made on the dental work.

While the state argued Saffold took advantage of the victim, the defense argued the defendant was making payments and by making payments he helped the victim’s credit score increase. However, the victim surrendered the BMW to car lot. The Dodge pickup truck has not been located at the time. The victim told police she wishes to surrender the truck as well.

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Grand jury to hear testimony in elderly exploitation case