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Police suspect a Sandy man exploited $182,000 from an elderly woman under the pretense of home repairs.
Richard Clyse, 46, was charged Thursday with exploitation of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony, in 3rd District Court.
Clyse rented a house from the woman, who is older than 65, between October and July. Clyse had the woman cut him a $14,560 check so that he could replace pipes in the kitchen, according to charging documents. He also told the woman that a Sandy City inspector came to the house and said that the sun room had to be elevated, so she gave him a $19,850 check for those repairs, the documents add.
But police found this month that the pipes were acceptable and not in the critical state Clyse led the woman to believe. Police also checked with the city and found no inspector ever visited the home, according to the charges.
Police also suspect Clyse exploited another $147,590 from his landlord.