ITHACA, MI (WTVB) – A former Branch County man charged with a vicious beating in an elder abuse case which left his mother seriously injured will be sentenced in June after reaching a plea agreement this week with the Gratiot County Prosecutor’s office.
53-year old Richard Coin of Alma on Wednesday pled no contest to vulnerable adult abuse-first degree, a 15-year felony. In exchange for the plea, lesser felonies of possession of a firearm by a felon and assault with a dangerous weapon were dismissed. The prosecutor’s office said there’s an agreement for a fixed sentence of 6 to 15-years in prison.
Coin had lived in Quincy in the 1990’s when he was employed by Star of the West Milling and was active in community affairs. He was arrested in March.
Coin shared a home in Alma with his 76-year old mother and was her caretaker. According to authorities, the day before he was taken into custody, 911 was called about the situation, and the mother was found unresponsive and had visible injuries when medics arrived. She was hospitalized in Lansing but recovered and was able to survive the ordeal.
Coin’s bond was revoked following the plea and he will remain in the Gratiot County Jail until he’s sentenced June 12, 2017.
