A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 21 for an Illinois man charged with stealing, forging and cashing checks of close family friends totaling more than $13,000.
Richard J. Geier, 23, of St. Charles, Ill., was charged Sept. 2 in Walworth County Circuit Court with theft by false representation of more than $10,000 and 19 counts of identity theft for financial gain.
According to online court records, a $1,000 cash bond was originally set for Geier on Aug. 28, as well as a $10,000 signature bond. On Sept. 3, Geier appeared in court with attorney Jason Sanders for his initial appearance, at which point, a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
According to the records, Geier waived his preliminary hearing as well as his right to a speedy trial. Court records indicate Geier was bound over for trial on Sept. 21.
Geier told police he is addicted to gambling and took one or two checks at a time from close family friends Mark and Gretchen Hladish, of Walworth, and spent the money at casinos and to pay off his “bookie,” according to the criminal complaint.
Gretchen Hladish reported 51 checks taken from her residence, written out and cashed between April 16 and Aug. 24, according to the complaint. Hladish said all the checks were made payable to Geier and more than $35,000 was taken from the account without permission.
A Walworth police lieutenant identified $12,370 worth of checks cashed at Walworth State Bank where the Hladish’s account is held and other cashed at Tri City Currency Exchange in St. Charles, Ill.
Geier admitted writing out each check, forging Gretchen Hladish’s name and cashing them, according to the complaint.
The Hladishs were able to identify 19 checks forged and cashed by Geier between May 15 and Aug. 15 totaling $13,070, according to the complaint.
According to online court records, Geier is next set to appear in court at 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 19 for a status conference.
