Rochester Woman Convicted of Theft By Swindle Faces New Charges

Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester woman who was placed on probation last year for a conviction stemming from an investigation into the financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult is facing similar charges involving another alleged victim.

48-year-old Buffy Jo Bathke was released without bail following her arraignment this morning in Fillmore County Court on felony counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and theft by swindle. According to the criminal complaint, she is accused of using her role as the legal guardian of the alleged victim to make "impermissible purchases with the victim's checking account that totaled $16,511.44 between May 15, 2015 and August 2021."

Get our free mobile app

The charges state that Bathke, who lived in Preston at the time, worked for a company that provides residential and in-home services to individuals with disabilities, and worked with the victim through her employment for about four years before becoming the victim's guardian. Court documents indicate the charges are the result of an investigation that began three years ago after Preston Police received a report from the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center that alleged Bathke was misusing funds of a vulnerable adult.

Andy Brownell

Court records show that Bathke entered into a plea agreement a year ago in a similar case. She admitted to a felony theft by swindle charge in exchange for the dismissal of a charge of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. She was sentenced to two years on probation and was ordered to pay nearly $3500 in restitution.

Pattanaphong Khuankaew

The criminal complaint in that case indicates the charges stemmed from the same report from the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center and involved crimes committed while she was employed by the same company in Preston. The thefts in the earlier case occurred between March 2015 and August 2021.

More Minnesota News: