By RACHEL C. DOVE
Staff Writer
DINGESS - An elderly Dingess resident contacted the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department and reported that her checkbook had been stolen and that, according to information provided by her bank, numerous checks had been cashed or used to purchase merchandise bearing her signature that she had not signed.
Upon investigation by MCSD Sgt. Joe Smith, the officer discovered that the person who allegedly committed the crime was none other than the victim’s son.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Smith, between Nov. 2011 and Jan. 2012, Donald Vance, 52, also of Dingess, allegedly stole the checkbook from his mother, Stella Vance, and is said to have cashed a number of checks to which he forged her name at the Dingess Service Center.
Among the checks cashed at the business were two in the amounts of $83 and $85 that were reportedly used to purchase alcoholic beverages. Checks were also made payable in the defendant’s name, and to several of his acquaintances.
Vance was taken into custody on Thursday by Sgt. Smith, and was arraigned before Magistrate Dee Sidebottom on a total of 12 counts - eight felonies and four misdemeanors. The charges included four counts of forgery (felony), four counts of computer fraud (felony) and four counts of receiving money on false pretenses (misdemeanor).
Sidebottom set bail for Vance at $12,000. He was transported to the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden where he will remain until the conditions of his bond are met.
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