Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon woman accused of forgery

A Gurdon woman is wanted for forgery in the second degree, according to an affidavit filed Feb. 4 at the Clark County Courthouse. Valerie Hunter, 33, has been accused of forging a temporary check at a Gurdon grocery store Oct. 2.

According to court records, Hunter wrote a check on an account that she had closed months earlier, but used another name as the responsible party for the check.

The woman who was listed on the check as the account holder reported the incident to the Clark County Sheriffs office Jan. 23. The woman reportedly stated that the check in question was a temporary check from Elk Horn Bank, in Arkadelphia, and that her name was written on the check.

The complainant stated that she has never had a checking account with the bank, and that she believed Valerie Hunter was the one who wrote the check. She stated that the check was written to a Gurdon grocery store.

Clark County Detective Jim Pennington went to the main Elk Horn Bank branch on Main Street and spoke with a bank employee about the incident, according to the court records. The employee was given a copy of the check, and reportedly told Pennington that the account returned to Hunter but was closed in May 2007.

The employee also verified that the complainant has never had a checking account with Elk Horn Bank.

Records indicate that Pennington compared the signature on the check with Hunters drivers license and determined them to be the same.

As of press time, no arrest had been made. If convicted, Valerie Hunter could face a prison term of 3-10 years, and/or a fine of up to $10,000.