Woman steals, uses checks in 2 counties

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A woman is accused of stealing someone's checks, forging the victim's signature and buying $3,500 worth of items.

Tabatha Rae Bartlett, 34, from Riverdale was arrested Thursday on multiple fraud and theft charges.

She was arraigned on seven counts of forgery, one count of stealing a financial transaction device, and being a habitual offender (fourth offense).

Bartlett is accused of passing the checks at multiple locations in Montcalm and Gratiot counties, according to a news release from Montcalm County Sheriff's Department.

Bartlett's bond was set at $10,000 and she remains in custody.

She was sentenced in December 2012 for identity theft in Gratiot County, sentenced in August 2012 for identity theft in Isabella County,

Bartlett's criminal history includes spending time in prison in 2006 and 2007 for attempted forgery and uttering and publishing in Montcalm and Gratiot counties.

She also pleaded to identity theft for crimes that occurred in Gratiot and Isabella counties last year.

She is still on probation for those crimes.