Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two charged in forgery after taking checks from truck parked in church parking lot

Two women have been charged with forgery in the second degree after allegedly taking a checkbook from a pickup parked at a church.

Abbie Hopkins and Donna Freeman are the two who were charged with three counts each of forgery. This is a class C felony carrying a sentence of 3-10 years in the state pen and a fine not to exceed $10,000 for each charge.

According to records, Sam Huckabee contacted the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, telling the deputies someone had stolen a checkbook from his truck while it was parked at St. John's Methodist Church in Hope.

Huckabee said his bank called him, letting him know three checks had been forged on his account.

Records state, Hopkins and Freeman were arrested in the case, but both told decidedly different stories.

According to Hopkins's statement, Freeman had came to her house asking to be driven to some churches in Hope so she could try and get money to keep her utilities from being shut off.

Hopkins reportedly said when they got to St. Johns, Freeman got out of the car alone, went in to talk with the pastor and when she came out, told Hopkins they needed to go to another church.

However, according to the records, the second church wasn't where Freeman allegedly said it was, so they reportedly decided to return to Prescott.

Records show the two started back to Prescott on Interstate-30, but took the Emmet exit, where Freeman, according to Hopkins's statement, told her to pull into the Eagle's Nest and she'd put $10 worth of gas in her car.

Freeman reportedly pumped the gas and also went in and paid while Hopkins remained in the car.

On the way back to Prescott, according to Hopkins, Freeman asked if she filled Hopkins's car with gas would she take her to Hot Springs the next day.

Hopkins reportedly agreed, and the second stop was at Baker's Best Stop in Prescott, where Freeman again was the one to pump the gas and pay the tab.

Shortly after leaving Bakers, Freeman, according to Hopkins, said she forgot to get cigarettes and asked Hopkins to stop at a third convenience store.

Hopkins did, according to records, with Freeman again going in, making the purchase and returning.

Freeman, after being arrested, waived her right to counsel and told officers, according to records, Hopkins came and got her, the two went to Hope, where they stopped by the church.

According to Freeman's statement, both got out at the church to talk to the pastor, who wasn't there.

Upon leaving Freeman said she went to Hopkins's car, but looked into a truck, saw the checkbook and took it.

Freeman allegedly admitted she was the one who wrote the checks.