Shaver charged with writing bad checks
A Troy man pleaded not guilty on Sept. 19, to writing bad checks earlier this year, totaling about $1,120 for items at two different Libby businesses.
David Ray Shaver, 29, pleaded not guilty to issuing bad checks in a common scheme, a felony, in Lincoln County District Court. Shaver is currently in Lincoln County jail on three other charges, including possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, possession of paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and driving with a suspended license, a misdemeanor. His bail is currently set at $23,140.
According to court documents, Shaver wrote five checks between May 30 and June 7 totaling $1,128.99 for items at Aitkins gas station and Libby Sports Center. One check to Libby Sports Center was written for $947.
When the businesses tried depositing the cash from Shaver’s First Montana Bank account, the bank returned the checks with a “Closed Account” stamp, indicating the checks were no good, according to court documents. The businesses in turn brought the checks to the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office, who mailed a bad check notice to Shaver’s address posted on the checks. But again, the checks returned to their sender, stamped this time with “Return to Sender — Unable to Forward.”
On June 11, Libby Police Officer Scott Kessel found out Shaver was in Lincoln County jail on alleged charges unrelated to the bad checks, and interviewed him at the facility. According to Kessel’s report, Shaver said he knew he didn’t have enough money in the account to cover the amount totaled in the five checks, but said he might when the check got to the bank. Shaver allegedly also said he had written a check to Shopko for about $200 several days before writing the check at Libby Sports.
In his report, Kessel told Shaver that he needed to return the pistol purchased at Libby Sports to the store, and he wrote that Shaver agreed to do so. Kessel told Shaver that returning the pistol wouldn’t resolve the bad check charges but would keep him from being charged with theft now that he was aware the check had bounced.
If convicted of issuing bad checks, Shaver could face a maximum 10 years in state prison, or a maximum $50,000 fine, or both. His next hearing is set for Oct. 17.
Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.