A Hot Springs woman was arrested on felony charges Monday for allegedly trying to cash stolen checks after a store employee recognized the owner of the checks as her niece.
Kala Rochelle Harris, 28, who lists a Spring Street address, was taken into custody around 4 p.m. Monday at Kroger, 215 Airport Road, and charged with two felony counts of second-degree forgery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of theft by receiving, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Harris remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $8,000 and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 3:30 p.m. Monday, Hot Springs police Officer Cash Murray responded to Kroger in reference to a forgery and upon arrival made contact with Harris and a Kroger employee who stated Harris attempted to cash two checks, one for $204.86 and one for $733.26, both made out in the same woman's name.
The employee noted Harris had identified herself as the woman listed on the checks using a North Carolina ID. The employee told Murray the owner of the checks was her niece and then she called her niece who reportedly confirmed the checks had been stolen.
Murray questioned Harris who reportedly said she attempted to cash the checks "because someone had threatened to call (Department of Human Services) and take her children away if she did not."
The niece came to the store and confirmed the checks were hers and had been stolen along with her wallet on Friday.
Murray searched Harris and allegedly found the niece's student ID and Social Security card in Harris' purse. Harris was taken into custody at that point without incident.
Local on 09/26/2018