Staff report

Charges were filed by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office against a Hastings woman on seven counts of Felony Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult. One count is for Uses or Takes Property Over $35,000 and six counts are for Uses or Takes Property Over $5,000.

Charges were filed March 10 against Mary Rose Polley Schommer, 51.

The complaint was investigated after a report received by the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center. Investigators found that Schommer, sole trustee on the victim’s trust documents, allegedly wrote 139 checks “from the victim’s account to herself and also used the Victim’s accounts to pay for her own personal expenses directly.”

The investigation was triggered by past due rent at assisted living facilities, as well as money owed to pharmacies.

Schommer told investigators money was used because she was having personal financial troubles and that some of the funds were reimbursement for her expenses in caring for the victim.

Total amount of funds allegedly taken from October 2016 to April 2020 was $173,106.34.

A summons was issued for Schommer to appear for booking, for release. She will appear in court on the charges in May.