The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Jessica Englebrecht, 38, a former resident of Scottville. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Englebrecht served as a guardian and conservator for several adults between 2017 and 2019. During this period, she embezzled more than $20,000 from ten vulnerable adults under her care and also mixed her clients’ funds.
In September 2023, a Mason County jury found Englebrecht guilty on multiple charges: eight counts of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult involving amounts between $1,000 and $20,000; one count related to commingling funds or obstructing investigations as a caregiver; one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult for an amount between $200 and $1,000; and one count for less than $200.
Englebrecht received a sentence ranging from 35 months to seven years in prison and was ordered to pay restitution totaling $21,409.
Attorney General Nessel stated, “Michigan’s vulnerable adults deserve to know that the law will protect them from financial exploitation by those entrusted with their care. I am relieved that the Court has upheld this conviction, and I am proud of the work my office has and will continue to do to stand up for some of our state’s most vulnerable residents.”
The Court of Appeals concluded there was enough evidence presented at trial to support Englebrecht’s convictions and determined she had effective legal representation.
