Sterling woman pleads guilty to financially exploiting a person with a disability, stealing $16,000

MORRISON — A Sterling woman has been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to financially exploiting a person with a disability while employed as the victim’s social services worker.

Katie E. Kuehl, 39, pleaded guilty Monday, Jan. 6, in Whiteside County Circuit Court to stealing $16,000 from the man by using his debit card at various banks, credit unions and gaming establishments, according to court testimony.

She admitted to making the withdrawals from the victim’s account from Aug. 1, 2018, to July 30, 2019, while he resided at a Sterling care facility. Assistant Attorney General Rob Sparano said the victim’s sister discovered money was missing from his accounts and that all told, Kuehl had used the victim’s debit card 53 times to withdraw money from his account.

An Illinois State Police investigation led the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to file formal charges against Kuehl in December 2020.

As part of a plea deal, charges of financial exploitation of a person with a disability, greater than $5,000 but less than $50,000; theft, with control and intent, greater than $10,000 and less than $100,000; and theft with intent, greater than $10,000 and less than $100,000, were dismissed.

All four counts are Class 2 felonies. Count 4 specifically charged Kuehl with misappropriating the victim’s Social Security funds.

Kuehl faced a possible sentence of three to seven years in prison, Whiteside County Circuit Judge James Heuerman said during Kuehl’s plea hearing.

Instead, he sentenced Kuehl to serve 24 months of probation and 60 days of home detention on electronic monitoring, and ordered her to complete 80 hours of community service and to pay $1,719 in fees that include a $75 fine.

Heuerman also noted that Kuehl had completed gambling addiction treatment.