Second theft charge for Kowalke

Cresco - A second charge of Theft in the 1st Degree, a Class C felony, was brought against former Cresco attorney Todd Kowalke on Aug. 14, 2018. He is accused of taking over $110,000 from Backwoods Partners, LLC that had been put into a trust account.  
Kowalke had previously been accused on July 19, 2018 of taking approximately $35,407.06 from the Violet Brokken Estate.
According to court records, Special Agent Wayne McGlaughlin stated he had received a call from New Hampton attorney Mike Kennedy, who is currently representing Backwoods Partners, LLC and the company’s managing partner, Mark Murphy.
On Aug. 6, McGlaughlin interviewed Murphy, who stated money left with Kowalke was to be used to buy out a share from a member of Backwoods Partners, LLC. Murphy had confronted Kowalke, who confessed he had stolen the money to gamble. The former lawyer then said he was going to make full restitution and he planned to sell his house to pay everything back.
On March 10, 2016, $110,823.85 was deposited into Kowalke’s trust account. As of Dec. 31, 2017, only $3,869.77 was in the account, with no payouts to any member of Backwoods Partners, LLC being made.
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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