Man charged with allegedly cashing fraudulent checks

HARTINGTON – An Omaha man faces a felony forgery charge after a Nebraska State Patrol investigation into his cashing of fraudulent checks in the area.

Darin Anderson, 52, allegedly cashed two fraudulent checks earlier this spring at a Hartington bank and another at a south Yankton bank, valued at more than $8,000.

The bank learned the checks were fraudulent and contacted police, providing surveillance video. The Nebraska State Patrol contacted the company who allegedly wrote the check and was told it had not written the check and did not know Anderson.

During his interview with police, Anderson said he was given the checks by a third party who drove him to the banks to cash them. In exchange for cashing the checks, he would receive some of the money and the rest went to the driver, he said.

No court dates have been set in the case yet.

In other court news: - Lauren Harms, 25, was sentenced to six days in jail and a $300 fine for second-degree trespassing and disturbing the peace after she refused to leave a Laurel garage.

A Laurel woman allowed Harms to sleep at her residence overnight but Harms instead moved into the woman’s garage and planned to stay there longterm. The woman could not get Harms to leave. A Cedar County deputy gave Harms 30 minutes to leave or she would be arrested for trespassing.

Instead, Harms began yelling and acting out, and was then arrested.

- Robert Souchek, 57, Hartington, has been charged with third-degree domestic assault, when he allegedly threw a jar at a woman, causing injury.