Niccole Marie Paschall

PIERCETON — A Pierceton woman has been arrested for writing 17 fraud checks from two different bank accounts earlier this year.

Niccole Marie Paschall, 34, 604 West Catholic St., Pierceton was arrested for aiding, inducing or causing forgery, a level 6 felony and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On Aug. 15, a detective with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department began a check fraud investigation involving Paschall. The officer obtained copied of nine checks written in June on a closed, Lake City Bank checking account belonging to Paschall. The checks were written to Service Liquor, Shortstop, Wilby’s and Ace Hardware for a total of $497.87.

The detective also obtained copied of eight checks written in July and August to Wilby’s and Ace Hardware that were returned for nonsufficient funds. These checks were written from a checking account belonging to Sheila Hoelderle.

Officers spoke with Paschall regarding the nine checks written on her closed account. Paschall advised that her checkbook had been stolen and that she had not written the checks. When Paschall was asked to submit a police report regarding the stolen checks she was unable to produce one.

On July 11, Hoelderle reported that her residence had been burglarized and her checkbook stolen.

Officers obtained surveillance video from Service Liquor and Ace Hardware and identified the person cashing Paschall’s checks as Tiffany Anderson. Anderson advised that Paschall and she were involved in writing checks on Paschall’s closed account and Hoelderle’s account.

An Ace Hardware employee was able to identify Paschall as one of the females who attempted to purchase paint from the store with a stolen check on July 27.

Paschall was arrested on a warrant and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31 with a $5,750 surety and cash bond.