Grundy Center woman charged with felony identity theft

A Grundy Center woman has been charged with felony Identity Theft and Second-Degree Theft after allegedly spending over $1,000 with a debit card obtained under false pretenses.
           
According to affidavits dated April 14 and May 1, Cynthia Ann Dreesman, age 52, used the personal information of her sister-in-law Taresa Tripp, a Reinbeck woman who had no knowledge of the events and did not give her consent, to procure an ATM card with access to Tripp’s bank account. Dreesman is then charged with spending a total of $1,089 of Tripp’s money between February 11 and March 29 in Grundy Center.
           
The Grundy Center Police Department is handling the case, and Captain Kyle Waugh, the chief investigator, declined to comment on the matter as the investigation remains open.  
           
Dreesman’s previous offenses include three convictions for Fifth Degree Theft in 2002 (all in Grundy County), and she had another Fifth Degree Theft charge against her dropped in 1997.
 
Both of the charges against Dreesman are Class D felonies, each of which carries an incarceration sentence of up to five years and fines between $750 and $7,500.
           
In an e-mail correspondence, Dreesman conceded that the allegations against her were true but added that it was a misunderstanding, and she has since agreed to repay Tripp, who lived with Dreesman for three months, every penny.
           
“I thought I was on the account, not realizing that she had removed me from it,” Dreesman said. “I am hoping it will (be resolved), but I think the state has taken over the complaint. It will be resolved one way or another.”
 
An attempt to reach Tripp via phone was unsuccessful. 
 
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