Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOGAN — A woman who told friends and family that she had brain cancer and raised thousands of dollars for treatments admitted Tuesday that her story wasn't true.
Lesley Elizabeth Jensen, 27, pleaded guilty to four charges as part of a plea agreement with Cache County prosecutors: two counts of communication fraud, a second-degree felony; and two counts of forgery, third-degree felony.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop three counts of communication fraud and two counts of forgery.
Cache County Attorney James Swink said the evidence was stacked against her and there was no need to go to trial.
Swink told 1st District Judge Brian Cannell that Jensen had forged X-rays and medical documents to support her lies and then took money that was raised on her behalf.
Her attorney, Greg Skordas, said she is taking responsibility for her mistake.
"She's a sweet young lady who made a horrible mistake, and she acknowledges that,” Skordas said. “(It's a) horrible mistake that will live with her the rest of her life."
Attorneys on both sides said Jensen wants to set things right.
"We have a defendant who I believe also is remorseful, who feels bad about what she has done,” Swink said, “and it's just the type of case that we can work out a resolution and it's in the best interest of everyone to do.”
"She wants to do whatever she can to make it right,” Skordas added.
Jensen will be sentenced on March 24. Each second-degree felony carries a potential maximum sentence of one to 15 years in prison.
We have a defendant who I believe also is remorseful, who feels bad about what she has done, and it's just the type of case that we can work out a resolution and it's in the best interest of everyone to do.
–Cache County Attorney James Swink
As part of the plea deal, Jensen will be required to pay full restitution to the victims, which could be about $30,000. Swink said the family has been selling her personal items, and a home sale is pending to pay the restitution.
Jensen claimed that she suffered from advanced stage glioblastoma — the same aggressive form of brain cancer that right-to-die activist Brittany Maynard had.
The Logan community rallied around Jensen, holding a fundraiser for her Nov. 5 at Cafe Sabor, a restaurant where she had worked for eight years. Dozens of employees worked for free during the fundraiser and about $17,000 was raised.
At the event, Jensen told reporters she was choosing to live for her 6-year-old daughter.
"She's my little angel," she said at the time. "I don't have a choice in this. I just have to get up every day and keep going."
Bob Whitehead has known Jensen for three to four years. He said he was really surprised to hear about the scheme.
“I know she was a good mom, had a nice home, and so, no idea what led her to do something like this,” he said.
While she deceived friends, family and strangers who wanted to help her get the treatment she said she needed, Whitehead said he still supports her.
“(I) love her to death. I still support her,” he said. “She has to pay her dues for what she did, but I still support her, just as my friend.”
Swink says that type of response is not uncommon.
“The victims have compassion for her, the defendant, even though she tricked them into giving her assistance when it wasn’t necessary,” the prosecutor said.
Swink said he hopes this case doesn't prevent others from giving to foundations that help people in difficult circumstances. He believes Cache Valley residents are still generous and will do whatever they can to help their neighbors and friends.
