Couple Plead No Contest to Bilking Elderly Woman

A husband and wife have pleaded no contest to a felony grand theft charge for bilking the man’s elderly ex-mother-in-law out of her home and life savings.

Valance H. Drusen, 67, and his wife, Charlotte, 45, entered their plea to the single count as their preliminary hearing was about to begin in Los Angeles Municipal Court. They face a three-year prison term when they are sentenced Sept. 6. They are free on bail. The couple were arrested last February at the home of Valance Drusen’s former mother-in-law and victim, Minnie K. DeMaria, 81, of Toluca Lake.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ardith Jarvan said the couple began taking over DeMaria’s property and savings in September, 1988, when DeMaria granted her former son-in-law a general power of attorney. A month later, they placed DeMaria in the Lighthouse Board and Care Home in North Hollywood, which is owned by Charlotte’s brother, Jarvan said.