Prosecutors say a South Salt Lake restaurateur turned family heirlooms into startup cash, and not in a way the law allows.
Loren Michael Bell, 53, owner of South Salt Lake's Contento Cafe, was charged Wednesday after prosecutors said he stole two paintings from his elderly mother and forged checks to help bankroll his restaurant. According to charging documents, investigators allege he took two works by Utah artist Minerva Teichert from a Pleasant Grove home, sold them, then hung printed copies in their place. Bell now faces 14 felony counts, including theft, sale of stolen property, money laundering, and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
Prosecutors allege Bell removed the paintings in late 2022 or early 2023, having prints made so his mother would not notice the originals were gone. Charging papers state that he then sold "Portrait of Sara Kohlepp" for $100,000 and "Roses" for $15,000. Investigators say Bell told his mother he was taking the pieces to Brigham Young University's Museum of Art for cleaning, but instead sold one painting to an art dealer and the other to a Salt Lake gallery. Those details are laid out in the charging documents and reported by KSL.
Teichert, a prolific 20th-century Utah painter, is known for Western and Latter-day Saint themes, and many of her works are held by regional museums, including Brigham Young University's Museum of Art, according to Wikipedia. That regional stature and collector interest are cited by prosecutors as part of the reason the paintings allegedly carried such significant resale value. When a locally iconic name like Teichert quietly surfaces on the market, both museums and serious collectors tend to pay attention.
In addition to the art allegations, prosecutors say the case stretches back years. Charging documents state that Bell repeatedly pressed his mother to provide financing and that, in February 2024, she brought a blank check to a meeting. Investigators allege Bell later filled it out for $75,000 payable to himself. According to those filings, roughly $43,300 of the proceeds went into a personal account, with the remainder allegedly used for restaurant-related expenses. The mother told investigators she believes she has provided about $1 million in loans since 2018. Those claims appear in the charging documents and are reported by KSL.
Contento Cafe And The Neighborhood
Business records list Bell as the owner of Contento Cafe, a South Salt Lake restaurant at 2280 S West Temple known for its 100 percent gluten-free Mexican menu. Local write-ups have highlighted the cafe's ingredient-focused approach and its role in the neighborhood dining scene, while business listings detail its location and hours. For more on the restaurant itself, see Salt Lake Magazine and the cafe's MapQuest listing.
What The Charges Could Mean
Under Utah law, "financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult" includes obtaining or using a vulnerable adult's money or property through deception or undue influence, and it is treated as a felony when the value or profit totals $5,000 or more, per the Utah Code. A second-degree felony in Utah carries an indeterminate prison term of one to 15 years and a possible fine of up to $10,000, according to state sentencing guidance. If Bell is convicted, he could also face restitution orders and civil remedies that are available to exploited adults or their estates.
For now, the allegations remain just that. Bell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The case was filed in the 4th District Court on Wednesday, and upcoming hearings and new filings will appear on the court's calendar as the case moves ahead.
