Former Monroe County official arrested for financial exploitation, stealing and forgery

By WGEM Staff

MONROE COUNTY Mo. (WGEM) - A former Monroe County public administraor was arrested on Monday after a four-month investigation started by the Missouri State Highway State Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the arrest of 45-year-old Jessica Chase.

On February 15, Monroe County Sheriff Joe Colston requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control investigate Chase.

Following an investigation, Chase was charged with six counts of financial exploitation of an older/disabled person, six counts of forgery, seven counts of filing false documents, 12 counts of felony stealing, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit/debit device, and one count of money laundering.

A probable cause statement claims that while working as a PA for the county, Chase served as the conservator for many elderly and or disabled people.

The statement alleges that Chase financially exploited and permanently deprived several disabled people of their money by taking money from their accounts, without their knowledge or permission to purchase items for herself. In addition, Chase is also accused of withdrawing cash from several bank accounts, without the owner’s knowledge or consent and allegedly keeping that money for herself.

Chase allegedly conducted the transactions between March 16, 2023, and December 22, 2023.

According to court documents, Chase was the public administrator for Monroe County from Jan. 3, 2021, until she resigned on Feb. 6 of this year.

Chase has been on a $150,000 cash bond in the Monroe County Jail.

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Former Monroe County official arrested for financial exploitation, stealing and forgery