Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mississippi Man Extradited To County; Charged With Theft

It's taken more than a year, but a man who wrote a bad check in excess of $3,000 is now in custody at the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

According to court records, Howard Sonkin, 52, of Starkville, Miss., purchased a load of lumber from Richard's Wholesale on Sept. 2, 1999.

He received the shipment on Sept. 3 and sent check number 3337 in the amount of $5,916.34 to pay for it.

However, Sonkin sent owner Ken Richards a letter by facsimile machine stating he would be stopping payment on this check and sending another one for the correct amount.

Sonkin sent Richards check number 3356 for $3,319.02 for the load of lumber. But, before the check cleared the bank, Sonkin stopped payment on it as well, while keeping the lumber.

Charges were filed against Sonkin, with a governor's warrant issued against him, requesting the State of Mississippi send him to Arkansas to stand trial.

Sonkin, though, fought extradition, until a hearing was held on Oct. 24, and it was determined he had no right to remain in Mississippi with charges pending against him in Arkansas.

Sonkin was returned to Prescott Monday, Nov. 6, where he was formally charged with theft of property over $2,500.

This is a class B felony carrying a potential sentence of 5 to 20 years in the state penitentiary and a fine not to exceed $15,000.