Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation

Dolores Tritle

An Owatonna woman charged with stealing several thousand dollars over eight months from a woman she knew pleaded guilty Wednesday in Freeborn County District Court to one count of gross misdemeanor financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Dolores Tritle, 53, pleaded guilty to taking $7,330 from the woman, who reportedly lived at a local nursing home at the time and needed 24-hour care. Tritle was her power of attorney.

Freeborn County Attorney David Walker said Tritle had paid back about $5,012 prior to making the plea, and when she pleaded guilty she paid back an additional $2,000.

Court documents state Tritle was charged after a detective received a referral for investigation on a case involving potential financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in June 2017.

Court documents state 16 withdrawals from the alleged victim’s account corresponded with deposits into Tritle’s account.

Tritle is slated to be sentenced July 5. She will be required to pay back the remaining $318 in restitution as part of her sentence, Walker said.

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Woman pleads guilty to financial exploitation