Woman facing felony check forgery charges
Published 7:50 am Tuesday, August 1, 2017
An Austin woman who allegedly forged several checks was charged in Mower County District Court on Monday.
Andrea Ann Barrera-Constancio, 49, was charged with felony check forgery-making or altering checks.
According to the court report, police responded to a call to the Sterling State Bank at 10:13 a.m. on July 28. An officer met with a bank employee regarding a forged $850 check. The employee told the officer that Barrera-Constancio and the alleged victim were in his office.
The check, which belonged to the victim, was made out to Barrera-Constancio. The victim, who was Barrera-Constancio’s landlord, denied writing her a check. The officer then asked Barrera-Constancio who had written the check, and Barrera-Constancio allegedly admitted that she wrote it.
Barrera-Constancio was arrested and placed in the squad car. The officer went back into the bank and spoke to the victim, who said he believed Barrera-Constancio had stolen his checkbook from his vehicle and that she had previously stolen and forged his checks. The victim and the banker provided the officer with evidence of other allegedly forged checks for the following amounts:
•$160 to Jim’s Supervalu, dated July 24, 2017;
•$200 to Barrera-Constancio, dated July 24, 2017, and cashed at the Accentra Credit Union;
•$400 to Barrera-Constancio, dated July 25, 2017, and cashed at the Accentra Credit Union;
•$140 to Jim’s Supervalu, dated July 24, 2017;
•$200 to Jim’s Supervalu, dated July 22, 2017;
•$120 to Barrera-Constancio, dated July 19, 2017, and cashed at the Accentra Credit Union;
•$140 to Jim’s Supervalu, dated July 20, 2017;
•$160 to Barrera-Constancio, dated July 20, 2017, and cashed at the Accentra Credit Union;
•$250 to Barrera-Constancio, dated July 21, 2017, and cashed at the Accentra Credit Union.
Barrera-Constancio is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 14.