Nearly 60 Counts Against Wis. Couple For Alleged Bilking
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Wisconsin couple is facing almost 60 felony counts between the two of them.
The charges stem from their care of a man who was disabled in a motorcycle crash in 2005.
St. Croix County Assistant District Attorney Mike Nieskes said complaints about the possible exploitation of a vulnerable adult sent investigators into motion.
"The caretaker, a child and her spouse," he said. "They had a forensic audit done of the finances and that's how they made some determinations."
According to court records, that audit uncovered more than $114,000 in checks, written by caregiver June Hicks to herself and others from the victim's account.
The money was taken between October 2009 and November of 2013, and that's not all investigators found.
"There are applications for certain medications through the patient's account that we believe, based on our investigation and the allegations, were used by other individuals," Nieskes said.
Court records say Hicks signed and picked up oxycodone prescriptions for the victim, which, according to medication logs, were never given to him.
Hicks is also accused of writing checks from the victim's account to her husband, Sammy Hicks, and of withdrawing $120,000 from the victim's pension fund to pay off his mortgage.
Court records say that never happened. The home went into foreclosure, property taxes were left unpaid and the homeowner's insurance policy lapsed due to nonpayment.
"It's a lot of money at this point," Nieskes said. "I'm not going to speculate as to the grand total."
Neiskes says the Hicks are innocent until proven guilty.
Court records show the couple's daughter faces 31 forgery charges.
It's alleged she wrote 31 checks totaling more than $113,000 to herself from the victim's account without permission.
June Hicks was hired by the victim's parents to care for him.
She became the sole guardian and manager of his estate when they passed.
All three will be in court next month to hear the charges against them and enter a plea.