A Minot man has been sentenced to serve 30 days of a 10 year sentence with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after pleading guilty to the financial exploitation of a family member.

Todd Behm, 54, Minot, appeared before North Central District Judge Douglas Mattson on Thursday for his sentencing, after entering a change of plea to guilty to exploitation of an eligible adult-position of trust/business relationship-deception-over $50,000, a Class A felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Minot Police received a report on May 10, 2023, of the financial exploitation of a family member by Behm. At the time of the report, the victim was considered an eligible adult, suffered from dementia and resided in a memory care facility.

Behm was in a position of trust and confidence with the victim, according to the affidavit of probable cause, and was involved in a business relationship. The reporting party said Behm told him he had borrowed $150,000 from the victim’s bank account in order to pay his taxes. The reporting party became concerned over the victim’s finances which funded their long-term care, and found several questionable transactions. These transactions included the $150,000 check written to Behm in February 2023, and $171,000 worth of checks and electronic funds transferred to Behm, his children or his business between May 2018 and April 2023.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, some checks written to Behm had “owes me” written on the memo line, and that there were no reasonable explanations for the checks and transfers. When the report was filed, the $150,000 “borrowed” by Behm had not been repaid. It was noted in the affidavit that Behm made several extravagant personal purchases over that time period, including a new vehicle, custom paint jobs on a boat and jet skis, along with various trips and vacation experiences which Behm bragged about on social media.

Mattson sentenced Behm to serve 10 years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with all but 30 days suspended and credit for three days already served. Behm was ordered to complete three years of supervised probation upon release, and to have no dealings with the victim’s finances. Restitution has been reserved pending a hearing at a later date.