Financial Exploitation and Forgery Arrest

On December 9, 2020, the Lewis County Sheriff's Office arrested La Trisha A. Crist, age 38, of Canton, Missouri on two counts of financial exploitation of an elder/disabled person , a class D felony, and two counts of financial exploitation of an elder/disabled person, a class E felony.

In June, 2020, the Sheriff's Office received a report that Ms. Crist was stealing money from an elderly and disabled family member. During this investigation, the Sheriff's Office learned Ms. Crist had been over-seeing the financial matters of the family member since 2017.

After extensive review of various financial records, Ms. Crist is alleged to have used the family member's debit card, stimulus check and other credit cards for her own personal gain in excess of $6000.

Lewis County Assistant Prosecutor, Chelsea Fellinger, filed formal charges and sought a warrant from the court. A warrant on all counts was received on December 8, 2020.

Ms. Crist's bond was set at $5000 with corporate surety allowed by Associate Judge Thomas P. Redington.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Canton Police Department.

On December 9, 2020, the Lewis County Sheriff's Office arrested La Trisha A. Crist, age 38, of Canton, Missouri on one count of forgery, a class D felony, pursuant to an investigation involving her role as a clerk for the city of Canton.

Ms. Crist is alleged to have created a false document related to her role as the collector in charge of water and sewer bills in June, 2020. At that time, she removed herself as the primary account holder and placed the water bill under the name of a family member who had been renting a property Ms. Crist owned at 116 South Fifth Street, Canton, Missouri. There was approximately $300 owed to the city of Canton for non-payment. Ms. Crist then began the process to have the family member sent to a collections agency. All of these incidents occurred without the authorization of proper city of Canton personnel.

Ms. Crist's bond was set at $5000 with corporate surety allowed.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Canton Police Department.