Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Several Busted For Forgery

Forgers beware, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office has declared war on you.

In fact, three people have recently been arrested and charged with forgery as this crackdown continues.

Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator with the NCSO and Prescott Police Department, said they are trying to get the message out forgery and hot checks are not victimless crimes. "Someone loses money in every incident of this nature," he said, "and we do pursue these individuals.

"We've gotten good cooperation with area merchants and again ask them to get photographic identification when checks are cashed and record this information."

Ronnie Watson, 36, of Waldo, found out about the crackdown.

He was arrested by the Waldo Police Department Sunday, May 4, on an outstanding felony warrant from Nevada County.

Westmoreland said Watson has been charged with three counts of second degree forgery. He allegedly forged three checks at the Country Store in Falcon during March.

From there, the husband and wife team of Julie Ann Crow, 36, of Prescott, and Terrian Mashun (Shaun) Crow, 29, of Prescott learned of the effort.

Westmoreland arrested Julie Ann Crow March 30 for second degree forgery. He said she was accused of uttering, or cashing, two forged checks at Baker's Best Stop on Oct. 10, 1996. The investigation has been ongoing since this time, he said.

Her husband was arrested March 20 by Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell on the same charges.

He is being held in the Nevada County jail without bond as he also faces probation revocation for a previous violation.

Charles L. Williams, 18, of Emmet, has his hands full as well.

Williams was arrested by Westmoreland April 30, for breaking or entering a vehicle owned by Todd Gilleyen while it was parked on Washington Road.

The crime took place on Feb. 9, 1997, with a checkbook being taken from the vehicle. One of the checks, Westmoreland said, was forged and cashed at a Hope store.

Arkansas State Police investigator Scott Clark has been working the Hempstead County side of this crime, and helping the NCSO.

Williams faces charges of second degree forgery in Hope, while being charged with breaking or entering in Nevada County.

"We got a break in the case because of an observant clerk in Hope," Westmoreland said.

NEW DEPUTY

Sheriff Otwell asks the people of Nevada County to welcome the NCSO's newest deputy to the area.

Thomas Goad joined the department March 1, 1997, coming to the Prescott area from the Chicot County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi.

Goad brings seven years experience and 2,000 hours of training to the NCSO. He received his certification in Utah and moved east, where he worked for the Greenville, Miss. Police Department. With the GPD, Goad was a field training officer as well as a member of the dive team.

He then transferred to the CCSO. While working for the CCSO, he said, he transported juveniles to the Nevada County Hospital's chemical dependency unit.

Goad liked what he saw in the Prescott-Nevada County area and decided to relocate here.

He has already been instrumental in helping find a cattle trailer stolen from the farm of Thomas Munn.