Winona Man Accused Of Taking Money From Mom’s Accounts

February 18, 2019 at 5:31 p.m.
Winona Man Accused Of Taking Money From Mom’s Accounts
Winona Man Accused Of Taking Money From Mom’s Accounts


A Winona Lake man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly making questionable withdrawals from his mother’s financial accounts totaling over $116,000.

Martin Dale Justice, 62, of 2704 Jean St., Winona Lake, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 8:45 a.m. Saturday for exploitation of a dependent or endangered adult, a level 6 felony. His bond was set at $5,000 surety and $250 cash.

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On June 18, Joe Dietz Sr., investigator, Adult Protective Services, received information from another investigator, Michelle Livinghouse, that a person was concerned that money was being withdrawn from Velva Justice’s bank account by her son and attorney in fact, Martin Justice.

Dietz obtained subpoenas through the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office for the bank accounts and reviewed the financial records. He found that between November 2017 and November 2018, there were withdrawals at casinos and a very large number of cash withdrawals through ATMs, over the counter and other withdrawals that “did not have the best interest” of Velva Justice, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

During this time, $46,800 was removed by ATM, another $61,765.82 from casinos, and other questionable withdrawals were made totaling $17,800. A total of $116,365.62 was withdrawn.

Dietz spoke with Martin Justice, who said that in April 2015 he began taking care of his mother and was power of attorney of her finances. He said that in November 2017, she was moved. The place she moved to was redacted in court documents. Between April 2015 and November 2017, he paid himself $10 an hour and worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week taking care of his mother, he said.

Martin Justice also said his mother has a long-term care insurance policy that pays her monthly charges for her care for Alzheimer’s dementia. He admitted to making withdrawals at casinos and ATMs during the time his mother was moved elsewhere and his services to her were greatly diminished.

Court documents state Martin Justice could not provide any receipts or records for current expenses for the care of his mother, that did not appear on the bank statements, in violation of the power of attorney agreement.

A Winona Lake man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly making questionable withdrawals from his mother’s financial accounts totaling over $116,000.

Martin Dale Justice, 62, of 2704 Jean St., Winona Lake, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 8:45 a.m. Saturday for exploitation of a dependent or endangered adult, a level 6 felony. His bond was set at $5,000 surety and $250 cash.

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On June 18, Joe Dietz Sr., investigator, Adult Protective Services, received information from another investigator, Michelle Livinghouse, that a person was concerned that money was being withdrawn from Velva Justice’s bank account by her son and attorney in fact, Martin Justice.

Dietz obtained subpoenas through the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office for the bank accounts and reviewed the financial records. He found that between November 2017 and November 2018, there were withdrawals at casinos and a very large number of cash withdrawals through ATMs, over the counter and other withdrawals that “did not have the best interest” of Velva Justice, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

During this time, $46,800 was removed by ATM, another $61,765.82 from casinos, and other questionable withdrawals were made totaling $17,800. A total of $116,365.62 was withdrawn.

Dietz spoke with Martin Justice, who said that in April 2015 he began taking care of his mother and was power of attorney of her finances. He said that in November 2017, she was moved. The place she moved to was redacted in court documents. Between April 2015 and November 2017, he paid himself $10 an hour and worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week taking care of his mother, he said.

Martin Justice also said his mother has a long-term care insurance policy that pays her monthly charges for her care for Alzheimer’s dementia. He admitted to making withdrawals at casinos and ATMs during the time his mother was moved elsewhere and his services to her were greatly diminished.

Court documents state Martin Justice could not provide any receipts or records for current expenses for the care of his mother, that did not appear on the bank statements, in violation of the power of attorney agreement.
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