Batavia woman guilty of stealing from elderly mom

A 54-year-old Batavia woman was convicted this week of stealing more than $15,000 from her elderly mother's bank account in 2009 and 2010.

Monica T. Ogen, of the 1-99 block of North Mallory Street, was convicted of financial exploitation of an elderly/disabled person, a felony.

According to prosecutors, Ogen took money from her mother between Aug. 3, 2009, and June 9, 2010, and spent it on clothing, restaurants and bars.

One time, prosecutors said, Ogen spent $2,295 at Home Depot. Prosecutors said Ogen admitted under oath that she'd taken the money without permission and wrote a letter of apology to her mother, who died in 2012.

Ogen faces anywhere from probation to seven years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 9 by Judge Susan Clancy Boles. Ogen also could be ordered to pay restitution to her mother's trust.

"As our population grows older and the number of elderly people in our community increases, so does the opportunity to exploit them," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. "But anyone who sees an elder as an easy target should know that this office makes a priority of defending the most vulnerable among us."