Hurley woman charged Tuesday with DHS thefts

HURLEY — A 52-year-old Hurley woman who worked for the Iron County Department of Human Services has been charged with five counts of theft from a business setting.

A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Iron County Court against Mary Peterson Tijan, of 112 Germania St., charges that unauthorized checks, expense requests and charges from her against the DHS total $185,388.

The complaint was authorized by acting Iron County District Attorney Fritz Schellgell.

Hurley Police Chief Chris Colassaco, who was first notified of the alleged financial irregularities, is continuing an investigation, along with his officers and the Iron County Sheriff’s Department.

Schellgell alleges from September 2013 through April 8, 2016, while an employee of the county, Tijan submitted vouchers to the county clerk’s office and wrote checks that were questionable; also using a county credit card for her personal and family use.

The complaint alleges among the money that was obtained illegally was tuition for her son at Gogebic Community College and checks written in the name of a company that her husband formerly operated.

It’s also alleged she altered check requests for mental health services so the money eventually ended up on her credit cards.

The complaint indicates Tijan was one of only two DHS employees who were authorized to request checks for the department.

One of the criminal counts alleges Tijan requested 28 checks made payable to Juniper Services, totaling $58,815. After obtaining a search warrant, investigating officers determined all 28 checks were applied to a Juniper credit card owned by Tijan, according to the complaint.

According to court records, Tijan’s signature bond was set at $100,000 on July 22, with conditions that she have no contact with governmental offices, GCC, banks and local businesses that are mentioned in the criminal complaint.

As part of the bond, Tijan is denied use of the Internet and was required to surrender all county property, including keys to any county facilities.

She also faces a misdemeanor theft charge and one count of illegally modifying data on a computer.

No initial court appearance date had been scheduled as of Tuesday.