Posted at: 10/02/2009 1:26 PM | KSAX.com
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Mpls. Man Accused of Financially Exploiting Mother

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minneapolis man is accused of financially exploiting his elderly mother who suffers from dementia.

A criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County says Joel Allen Berntsen cashed thousands of dollars in checks from his mother's account, causing the 95-year-old woman to fall behind on rent and have her bank account frozen.

The 58-year-old Berntsen says he borrowed $290,000 from his mother in 2006 to buy a house in North Oaks. She also gave him $2,000 a month for house payments. But in 2008, the home in his mother's name went into foreclosure. And, the IRS notified the Roseville woman she owed nearly $13,000 in back taxes on the home.

Prosecutors say Berntsen told police he also borrowed nearly $22,000 from his mother.

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)