By Frank Main
Chicago Sun-Times
A former Chicago Police officer was convicted Thursday of attempting to bilk a 90-year-old man out of his $500,000 home - as well as $400,000 in bank accounts and investments.
Donald Owsley, 63, was found guilty of financial exploitation of the elderly and forgery. Cook County Judge Timothy J. Joyce, who presided over the bench trial, found Owsley not guilty of official misconduct.
Owsley’s attorney Jed Stone said he was gratified the judge found Owsley didn’t use his police job to victimize Theodore Hoellen. But he said he was “dumbfounded” by the conviction, saying there was no evidence of deception. Hoellen simply wanted to make sure his estranged brother and other relatives didn’t inherit anything, Stone said. He said Owsley and Hoellen had a “special father-and-son relationship.”
Owsley befriended Hoellen, who was suffering from dementia, and persuaded him to sign over his home in the 5800 block of North Kenton in 2001. Hoellen also gave Owsley control over $400,000 in bank accounts and his Chicago Transit Authority death benefit, prosecutors said.
But Owsley never took possession of the property or the money, Stone said. In the end, he said, Hoellen’s brother and relatives divided the estate.
Hoellen has since died, officials said. Owsley resigned from the police department several years ago.
In 1999, Hector LeFleur, 90, also signed over his property to Owsley. LeFleur’s family sued and the property was returned to his estate, records show. Owsley received $75,000 in a settlement, Stone said.
Owsley wasn’t prosecuted in the LeFleur case because the statute of limitations expired, officials said. But the judge indicated he could use the LeFleur case as proof of other crimes to enhance Owsley’s sentence.
Stone said his client met LeFleur when the officer stopped in the rain to change a tire for the elderly man. They developed a father-son bond, too, he said.
Owsley faces up to 15 years in prison.
Stone said he intends to file a post-trial motion to overturn the conviction.
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