Brown County District Court

• A felony financial exploitation-vulnerable adult charge was filed Nov. 20, 2023 against Norman Duane Krueger, 57, 623 N. Washington St., New Ulm. A Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Senior Investigator Chris Moellenhoff received a Minnesota Adult Abuse Report Center (MAARC) report July 6, 2023 that allegeds suspected financial exploitation of a victim by Krueger. The victim asked for bank account balances and statements on July 5, 2023. Large purchases were found on the victim’s bank account, one for a trailer home. There were several large checks and withdrawals from the victim’s bank account.

On June 21, 2023, there was a $195,310.97 deposit into the victim’s account that for for the sale of the victim’s home. The report read that Krueger took $196,000 from the victim’s account since June 21, 2023.

Investigator Moellenhoff met with the victim at his residence on July 12, 2023 and learned Krueger is the victim’s power of attorney. The victim said he has not seen any financial documents since Krueger took over his financial affairs. The victim denied buying a trailer home and said he didn’t give Kruger permission to do so and he had no knowledge of checks made out to Andrea Krueger, Norman Krueger’s wife and did not authorize them.

Spending items found on the victim’s accounts included $80,468.16 on a Sears card, $31,380.32 to CorTrust Bank, $9,600 to Andrea Krueger, $4,558.04 on a Commerce Bank card, $24,517.70 on a Discover card, $22,500 to Jensen Motors and $58,000 to Minnesota Trailer Sales.

There were also transactions for Branson, Mo. shows and gaming charges for phone or table applications. The victim doesn’t own a cell phone or computer.

• Three felony check forgery and one felony possession or sale of stolen or counterfeit check charges were filed Nov. 20, 2023 against Laura Sue Randall, 50, 1108 17th St. N., New Ulm. A Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

According to court documents, Sleepy Eye Police Investigator Shawn Bohnen got a phone call from a Schutz Family Foods worker Aug. 7, 2023, regarding the business accepting three checks returned as insufficient funds on Aug. 6, 2023. Photos were provided showing a white-haired woman writing checks and a dark-haired female with her. The worker said the women left the store in a black Cadillac sedan.

On Aug. 8, 2023, Investigator Bohnen got a phone call from New Ulm Police Investigator Tara Martin who identified the dark-haired woman as a suspect and sent digital photos of the vehicle she drives.

The suspect called Investigator Bohnen Aug. 9, 2023 and said she recalled going to Schutz Family Foods with Randall, driving her there where she bought groceries.

Investigator Bohnen talked to Randall’s probation agent and sent the agent a digital photo of the white-haired woman who wrote the checks to Schultz Family Foods. The agent identified the woman as Randall. The three bad checks totaled $535.41.

• A gross misdemeanor harassment restraining order violation charge was filed Nov. 20, 2023 against Nathan Lee Helget, 41, 64537 Gibbon. A Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Officer Trevor Kruse took a phone call from a victim about a possible HRO (harassment restraining order) violation at 6:49 p.m., Sept. 20, 2023. The victim said she received two messages from Helget dated Sept. 20, 2023 at 5:16 p.m. and 6:11 p.m.

Officer Kruse viewed an an amended HRO that was in effect until Oct. 23, 2025 and read that Helget shall have no direct or indirect contact with the victim including any visits, phone calls or contact by electronic means. Helget was convicted of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon on Nov. 27, 2018.