Fairmount City Man Accused of Check Forgery

REDBANK TWP., Pa. (EYT) – The New Bethlehem Borough Police Department filed forgery charges against a Fairmount City man.

Court documents indicate the following criminal charges were filed against 24-year-old Ethan David Hetrick, of Fairmount City, on November 30:

• Forgery – Alter Writing, Misdemeanor 1 (nine counts)
• Bad Checks, Misdemeanor 3 (nine counts)
• Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor (two counts)
• Marijuana – Small Amount Personal Use, Misdemeanor

According to a criminal complaint, around 11:42 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28, Officer Clark, of the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, was contacted by a known female about a possible forgery and theft.

The victim stated that Ethan David Hetrick had been writing checks from her account using her signature. The victim also noted that Hetrick is on probation in Clarion County, the complaint states.

The victim provided copies of the checks from the bank, which included:

• Check dated September 29, 2018, to the order of (a local store) for $30.00
• Check dated October 11, 2018, to the order of (a known male) for $30.00
• Check dated October 12, 2018, to the order of (a local store) for $55.00
• Check dated October 16, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $100.00
• Check dated October 22, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $50.00
• Check dated October 24, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $50.00 (memo: Yard Work)
• Check dated November 5, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $50.00
• Check dated November 7, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $95.00
• Check dated November 10, 2018, to the order of Ethan Hetrick for $40.00

The checks totaled $500.00.

The complaint indicates that during an interview, the victim stated that she did not authorize any of these checks and went on to say that she knows Hetrick has been forging her signature and cashing the checks.

The victim requested that charges be filed against him.

Officer Clark then contacted Clarion County Probation Officer White, who noted that she had also been in contact with the victim and was planning to visit the Hetrick residence on Thursday, November 29. Officer White said she would then be able to bring Hetrick to the police station for an interview.

Officer Clark contacted a local store in New Bethlehem and received a copy of a check that had been returned from the bank. The check was in the amount of $50.00, to the order of Ethan Hetrick. The check was from a closed account belonging to the victim.

Around 10:53 a.m. on Thursday, November 29, Officer Clark and a representative of Clarion County Probation went to interview Hetrick.

According to the complaint, when they entered Hetrick’s bedroom, the officers found a glass water pipe, a grinder, and a small amount of marijuana inside a pill bottle, which were all in plain view. Clarion County Probation then did a drug test on Hetrick, which returned a positive result for marijuana.

When questioned about the checks, Hetrick allegedly said that he wrote them and admitted that he forged the victim’s signature, the complaint states.

Clarion County Probation took Hetrick to the Clarion County Jail.

Charges were filed on Friday, November 30, in Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller’s office.

Hetrick remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail.

A preliminary arraignment is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 17, with Judge Miller presiding.