- Loren Michael Bell, 53, faces 14 felony charges for allegedly stealing from his mother.
- He allegedly sold her paintings for $115,000 to fund a restaurant venture.
- Bell also forged a $75,000 check from her, misusing funds for personal expenses, prosecutors say.
PLEASANT GROVE — An Orem man is accused of stealing valuable paintings and forging a $75,000 check from his elderly mother to help fund his new restaurant in Salt Lake County.
Loren Michael Bell, 53, was charged Wednesday in 4th District with 14 felony crimes, including theft, two counts of sale of stolen property, two counts of criminal simulation, two counts of communications fraud, three counts of money laundering, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity and two counts of theft, all second-degree felonies; and forgery, a third-degree felony.
According to charging documents, in late 2022 or early 2023, in Pleasant Grove, Bell took two paintings from his mother, who was 78 at the time. The paintings were by artist Minerva Teichert, who specialized in art themed around The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stolen paintings were “Portrait of Sara Kohlepp” and “Roses.”…