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FORGED CHECKS RESULT IN ARREST

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:00 AM CST

An investigation into the reported forgery of signatures on Social Security checks resulted in the arrest of a Jefferson County man who reportedly signed his late father’s checks.

At a court hearing Wednesday, Circuit Judge Berlin Jones ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Grady Walters Jr., 33, with two counts of forgery, and two counts of theft of property, and set a $2,500 court appearance bond for Walters.

Deputy Prosecutor Rik Ramsey said sheriff’s investigators were contacted by the Social Security Administration about the alleged forgeries, and determined that the younger Walters had cashed Social Security checks that had been issued to Grady Walters Sr., who had died before the checks were cashed.

Ramsey said the value of the checks that been cashed was $2,104.

Also Wednesday, the court set a $25,000 bond for Steven Stephens, 62, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Stephens with rape.

Ramsey said a call to the state police crimes against children hotline prompted an investigation, which included an interview with a juvenile female who alleged that he inappropriately touched her.

In addition to setting the bond, the judge ordered Stephens, who was represented at the hearing by attorney Bryan Achorn of the Robinson Law Firm, to have no contact with the victim until the case is settled.

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