WILLMAR -- A former local Salvation Army captain entered a plea of guilt Friday to swindling a blind, "delusional," elderly man of more than $3,000.
Raymond Michael Line, 43, faced a felony charge after allegedly spending money from a 58-year-old man's bank account without permission. Line was the court-appointed guardian of the man, who was listed as a vulnerable adult.
Line allegedly used the money to buy a $1,775 trombone and a $1,599 digital projector in 2004.
Line was charged in December of 2005 with one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. At the time he was captain of The Salvation Army in Willmar. He was suspended from that position in early 2006.
Line entered a plea of guilt to the charge Friday afternoon under the agreement that it would be sentenced as a gross misdemeanor. As part of the agreement, Line was also required to pay $5,000 in restitution before leaving the courthouse.
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The plea was entered as an Alford plea -- meaning Line agreed there was sufficient evidence to prove guilt but did not admit to committing the acts -- but not before an apparent misunderstanding between Line and the court.
After Judge Michael J. Thompson had accepted the original plea of guilt, he pointed out the seriousness of the situation.
"He (the man) was really incapable of managing his own affairs," Thompson said. "And you knew that."
Thompson then began questioning Line about the alleged incidents. When defendants enter a guilty plea, they are questioned about the act for the record, to reflect that the defendant understands the charges and admits to the offenses.
However, when Line was asked if he had used the man's money to buy the trombone, Line responded "no, I did not."
Thompson then questioned Line about the purchase of the projector. "I just made the suggestion for it," Line told Thompson.
Prosecuting attorney John Kallestad of the Kandiyohi County Attorney's Office then interjected by asking the court to convict Line under the Alford plea. Thompson accepted the amended plea and continued questioning Line.
Under an Alford plea, defendants still must answer questions for the record.
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Throughout the questioning Line seemed hesitant to answer questions related to the alleged purchases. Kallestad asked if Line understood that evidence from three separate recorded statements and an Office Max receipt signed by Line would probably have convinced a jury of his guilt. Kallestad also pointed out that during one of the recorded statements, Line referred to the elderly man as "delusional."
"Your own words?" Kallestad questioned. Line answered yes but appeared reluctant to do so.
Line later told the court he is currently unemployed and living in Washington County on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Line is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 26.
