Closing arguments begin at 2 today in the Tony Linwood Martin Jr. obtaining property by false pretense and exploitation of elder trust trial.

Visiting Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole this morning denied motions by Martin’s attorney, Kanter Searcy Morris, to have the charges dismissed.

Morris told Judge Cole there was nothing to dispute Martin attempted to pay back the $150,000 he borrowed from the victim, Faye Pierce. “The state has to prove there was intent to deceive,” Morris argued in her motion to drop the obtaining property by false pretense charge. “Based on Mr. Martin’s testimony there was no intention to deceive.”

Morris said in her motion to dismiss the exploitation of elder trust charge, Martin showed in his testimony Pierce was no way diminished in her ability to make decisions or make payments to him when he did interior decorating work for her. “He never indicated she couldn’t run her business activities.”