North Manchester Man Who Stole Check Sentenced
WARSAW — A North Manchester man whom cashed a stolen check in the amount of $1,600 was sentenced today, Dec. 14, in Kosciusko County Superior Court I.
Andrew Michael Tolson, 3355 West SR 114, North Manchester, was sentenced on a charge of forgery, a level 6 felony.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 6, the owners of A & A Auto Sales informed officers they had learned that four checks from their business checkbook were missing. After they discovered the checks were missing, they contacted the bank to have them stop the payment on three of the checks. One check, in the amount of $1,600, had already been cashed on Jan. 3. They also stated that on Jan. 3, Tolson, an employee at the business, had left work early that day and had not returned to work since.
According to court documents, the check had been cashed by Kelsie Ella Music, Warsaw. In the signature space, Music’s name had been written and then crossed out, the name of one of the owners was legible.
An officer spoke with Music who claimed Tolson had showed her a blank A & A Auto Sales check that the owners had given him. Music advised she had been cashing Tolson’s checks and depositing them into her bank account because the bank would no longer take checks with Tolson’s name on them because he was not on the checking account. Music explained that the owner of A & A Auto Sales did not know how to spell Music’s name so she had given Tolson a blank check. She stated the owner had told Tolson to sign the owners name on the check.
An officer spoke with the owners again who advised they would never give anyone a blank check and did not give Tolson a blank check, nor did they give Tolson permission to write a check or cash it.
The state considered Tolson’s lack of education, lack of constant employment and violent nature all aggravating factors in his sentencing. Tolson is facing battery charges that occurred while out on bond in this case.
Judge David Cates showed no pity on Tolson, mentioning his extensive criminal history and stating that Tolson’s body language in court made it look as though he was unconcerned about his sentencing.
“It’s not that I don’t care,” said Tolson, advising he just knew what to expect.
Judge Cates sentenced Tolson to two years at the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and ordered him to pay $1,415.64 to Indiana Lakes Federal Credit Union. Tolson will receive 42 days jail time credit.
Music received a two year suspended sentence for forgery on April 18.