Replanted 'Memorial' Trees Bring Felony Charges

Thumbing your nose at the bank? Simply taking what you thought belonged to your family?

In either case, Teresa Lynn Petter, 38, of Lakeville, has been charged by the Dakota County Attorney's Office with two felonies for taking more than $22,000 worth of trees and garage equipment from her father's former property which had already been foreclosed upon by Vermillion State Bank.

According to a criminal complaint filed last week, in September of last year, a Dakota County Sheriff's deputy responded to an address in Empire Township on a report of damage to the property.

The sheriff spoke to an person—who wasn't identified in the complaint—and was told a number of items had been removed from the property while it was in possession of the bank that had foreclosed upon the property in March, some five months previous.

The person also told the sheriffs deputy that Petter's father had been allowed by the bank to stay on the property, rent free, until Sept. 1.

Shortly after the bank executed a detainer on the property following the Sept. 1 move-out date, it was discovered that garage doors on two outbuildings, a number of bathroom vanities, a kitchenette, cupboards, a stair railing, and 22 large evergreen trees had been taken from the property without the bank's consent.

The complaint says deputies called the tree company used to remove the trees, which a neighbor witnessed, and discovered they had been called by Petter to remove the trees and bring them to her Lakeville residence. The complaint says Petter told the tree company the trees needed to be removed by the Sept. 1 move out date.

Deputies met with Petter on Sept. 16 and discovered there had been multiple auctions at her home where the garage doors and some other items had been sold. Investigators also found a number of recently planted evergreen trees.

According to the complaint, Petter acknowledged to investigators that she was aware the foreclosure had been completed and the items had all been removed after the redemption period, but said the trees were "memorial trees planted in memory of family members who had died" as explanation why they were taken. She also said she believed she could sell  the garage items because "they were paid for in an insurance settlement."

If convicted, both felonies carry a maximum of five years and a $10,000 fine.