At all relevant times in this complaint, Female-1 was a “vulnerable adult” under Minnesota Statutes, sections 609.232.11 and 626.5572.1. Female-1 was diagnosed with static encephalopathy, a brain injury since birth, depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and Type 2 diabetes. Female-1 received developmental disability case management through Mille Lacs County and services from a provider licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. THERESA MARIE LOVAAS [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, was appointed as Female-1’s guardian and conservator on November 18, 2022. Approximately eight months later, Mille Lacs County received an adult protection report alleging that LOVAAS was financially exploiting Female-1. On July 20, 2023, a social worker with Mille Lacs County Community and Veteran Services and a Milaca Police Officer met with Female-1 at her residence in Mille Lacs County.
Female-1 reported that LOVAAS had cut off access to her bank account and that she did not have money for laundry or groceries. Female-1 also reported that LOVAAS had withdrawn $1,033 from her bank account, supposedly to reimburse her grandfather for furniture purchases, which Female-1 believed she had already paid back. Female-1 reported that she had written multiple checks from her account that had bounced, resulting in overdraft fees. Female-1 described multiple trips with LOVAAS to the Mille Lacs Grand Casino, during which LOVAAS would take half of any of Female-1’s winnings.
On July 28, 2023, the social worker and officer met with LOVAAS at the Milaca Police Department. LOVAAS explained that she had frozen Female-1’s bank account because Female-1 was spending time with her boyfriend, whose family used Female-1 for her money. LOVAAS stated that she was willing to take Female-1 grocery shopping and gave Female-1 money for food and gas on the weekends. LOVAAS explained that she had paid an attorney $1,000 from Female-1’s account to set up a trust fund for Female-1. LOVAAS stated that the check had been held for several months, resulting in a negative account balance.
LOVAAS provided Amazon receipts showing purchases of $ 1,142.52 and $ 1,003.43, respectively, which she claimed were for furniture purchases for Female-1’s apartment. Both amounts had been deducted from Female-1’s account since LOVAAS became conservator. LOVAAS denied using funds from Female-1’s account to gamble at the casino. LOVAAS identified the debit cards for Female-1’s account, with LOVAAS’s card ending in “6925.” LOVAAS stated that Female-1 and her friends had gone to the casino for Female-1’s birthday.
According to LOVAAS, Female-1 had withdrawn about $800 from her account to gamble with. Female-1 then won several hundred dollars and wanted to keep her winnings; however, LOVAAS stated that she allowed Female-1 to keep $200-$300, while taking the remaining $500-$600 to deposit back into Female-1’s account. On October 17, 2023, the social worker spoke with LOVAAS, who stated that she was seeking to have Female-1’s guardianship and conservatorship dismissed. On October 23, 2023, the social worker again spoke with LOVAAS, who stated that she had been removed as Female-1’s guardian and conservator.
