Charles City woman receives no active time after pleading guilty to forgery

A Charles City woman who forged her name on a check will serve no active time behind bars after entering a guilty plea during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

Amanda Lynn Walke, of the 8700 block of Church Lane, entered a guilty plea to a single count of forgery as part of a plea agreement. One charge of misdemeanor petty larceny was dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City Commonwealth’s Attorney Tyler Klink, on Apr. 21 a Charles City deputy responded for a call of service to investigate a possible forgery. The victim, Portia Jones, told the officer that Walker, who was renting Jones’ property, approached her on Apr. 14 and asked her for $80 to pay the cable bill. Jones filled out and signed the check, leaving the recipient blank. Jones asked Walker to tear the check out because she had difficulty to do so.

On Apr. 17, Jones noticed a transaction addressed to Deitrick Miles in the amount of $80. Jones told the officer that she had no knowledge of who the individual was. It was also discovered that another check had been cashed from Jones’ account in the amount of $140. Jones said that the signature on that check was not hers. After reporting the fraud to the bank and a subsequent investigation, Walker was identified as the suspect and was arrested on the charge.

Under the agreement, Walker received a five-year sentence with all time suspended. She must also pay restitution for the checks that were used without Jones’ consent.