Woman accused of embezzling from granddaughter, but she says accusations are "just not true"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 56-year-old Betty Coleman of Milwaukee is accused of embezzling money from her own granddaughter. She's even accused of giving some of the money to a man who is in prison for molesting her granddaughter. But Coleman tells FOX6 News these accusations are "just not true."
Betty Coleman
Coleman faces two criminal charges -- felony theft (embezzlement) and misdemeanor contempt of court. They are charges Coleman says she will fight.
According to the criminal complaint, when the granddaughter's grandfather died in 2013, his life insurance policy provided a beneficiary payment of nearly $50,000 to the girl. But because she was a minor, "Wisconsin probate code required an adult guardian receive and manage the insurance funds on her behalf." The probate court appointed Coleman as the guardian.
The contempt of court charge accuses Coleman of lying about her criminal history when she was appointed guardian of her granddaughter's insurance funds.
Coleman's alleged crimes are laid out in a nine-page criminal complaint.
"I read that and I didn't like me. I hate the fact that these people think I would be this kind of monster," Coleman told FOX6 News.
The complaint indicates Coleman was ordered "to set aside $20,000 of the life insurance proceeds for (the girl) until she reached age 18 years." The remaining nearly $30,000 was to be spent for the granddaughter's benefit. The complaint however, shows that did not happen.
Shortly after getting guardianship of the young girl, the complaint shows Coleman allegedly went on a spending spree. She spent more than $2,600 at Best Buy, $1,190 at USA Wicker and $2,501 at Walmart. In the weeks following, Coleman apparently spent much more on tobacco, liquor, jewelry and wigs. The complaint also shows some of the money went "to benefit the man who sexually molested (the granddaughter)" who is now serving time at a prison in Black River Falls.
In the end, the complaint shows "the guardianship account had a closing balance of $25.27."
"The judge says 'well you take $20,000 out for her and the rest you use for bills,' and I did. But it ran out, and I was not stealing. I wasn`t trying to be deceptive," Coleman said.
Coleman claims all of the money was used for her granddaughter.
"Apple computer, iPad, cell phone for her," Coleman said.
Roosevelt Coleman
Coleman says while facing these accusations has been difficult, she says the worst is being accused of using her granddaughter's guardianship funds to benefit a man in prison, convicted of sexually molesting the girl. Coleman's husband, Roosevelt Coleman has been in prison since 2012.
"The one thing about all of it that really bothers me is that they would say that I would take money from her and send it to that person. And I didn`t," Coleman said.
Coleman says the man's family gave her $140 to send to him.
"There is no way I'd give that person water if he was on a desert," Coleman said.
Coleman says she plans to replenish her granddaughter's money so that the girl can go to college.
If convicted of the more serious charge (felony theft - embezzlement), Coleman faces up to ten years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.