3 months ago by Scott Hardy
Former Public Administrator Jessica Chase faces 34 counts
The former Public Administrator for Monroe County, Missouri has been arrested, and is accused of stealing from several elderly people.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol identifies her as 45-year old Jessica Chase of Paris. A report says that troopers arrested Chase Monday on a total of 34 felony counts. They include 6 counts each of Forgery and Financial Exploitation of an Elderly person, 12 counts of stealing over $750, seven counts of filing false documents, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and one felony count of Money Laundering. Authorities say the charges are based on incidents between last March and December, and that a warrant for her arrest was issued Friday. Chase was the County's Public Administrator from January 2021 until she resigned in early February. In all, she's accused of stealing over $18,000 from Monroe County residents, and using the money for herself. According to the Missouri Association of Public Administrators, a county public administrator "serves as a court appointed Personal Representatives in decedent's estates, and as guardians and/or conservators for individuals who are unable to care for themselves or their property when there is no one else to serve".
Chase made her first court appearance Monday afternoon in Monroe County Associate Court, and will have a bond hearing Tuesday afternoon. Her case will eventually be moved out of Monroe County on a change of venue. Chase is in the Monroe County Jail on $150,000 cash-only bond. A probable cause statement is below.
