Malgorzata Burns Case Heading To District Court

The case involving a Casper woman who is accused of taking advantage of a 100-year-old man’s finances is heading to trial.

A judge has ruled that there is sufficient evidence and testimony to bound 34-year-old Malgorzata Burns over to district court, on charges of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, obtaining goods by false pretenses and four counts of forgery.

According to prosecutors, from May of 2011 through May of 2012, Burns was working as a certified nursing assistant at a senior home, and managed to obtain access to the financial assets of 100-year-old Alfred Persson.

A representative of the Wyoming Guardian Corporation alerted police when it was discovered that a number of electronic fund transfers had been taking place in Persson’s name, yet Persson had never used the internet.

Investigators were able to obtain Persson’s bank records and determined where the money went.

They discovered that $7,200 worth of checks had been written to Burns, yet Persson’s signature on each check was noticeably different.

Also a number of credit card payments had been made on line, as well as payments for cable TV, internet and phone service, which Persson had no need to pay for, since it was provided at the senior home.

A doctor at the senior home told police that Persson has a form of dementia and has been deemed incompetent and is unable to take care of himself.

He also said that Persson would not be able to remember giving anyone permission to use his check book.

Burns' defense argued that the checks were written before Persson was deemed incompetent and that is not evidence.

Burns is being held on $10,000 bond awaiting trial, and could face up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.