Alva Review-Courier -

Charges have been filed against two people after a man discovered checks written on his bank account while he was in a nursing home.

Court documents show Leland Reed first contacted the Alva Police Department to report a theft and forgery case involving two checks totaling $700. Although Reed was living with his daughter in Alva on April 25, 2023, when the report was made, his prior residence had been in Dacoma when the checks were written. The case was turned over to Woods County Deputy Sheriff David Cummings.

Reed completed an affidavit of forgery for checks written on April 14 and 16 while he was in an Alva nursing home.

On May 10 Cummings spoke with Reed at his home in Dacoma. He said he paid all his bills before he had surgery and went to the nursing home for recovery. He left the checkbook, with only two checks remaining, in his bedroom.

On May 17, Cummings executed a search warrant for Arvest Bank where one of the checks for $450 was deposited. The owner of the account receiving the deposited funds was William A. Brown of Del City. A search on the National Crime Information Center showed Brown to have prior felony convictions for drug possession and second degree burglary. Cummings attempted to call Brown at the number provided by the bank, but it was no longer in service. He found other numbers on the law enforcement comprehensive report and left messages on the ones still working.

William Allen Brown, 43, of Del City, has been charged with violation of Oklahoma statute via computer, a felony. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

A second search warrant was issued on Aug. 1, 2023, for the Republic Bank of Chicago on the $250 check. The bank directed Cummings to the institution that does Ingo Money, a customer of Republic Bank of Chicago using the bank to clear checks before deposit.

Cummings obtained a warrant for Ingo Money and obtained information on Christina Bird’s account. He tracked down an IP address to a motel in Oklahoma City. He attempted to contact Bird by phone but was unable to leave a voice mail. He emailed her with his contact information and the reason he needed to speak with her.

Bird contacted the sheriff’s department on Aug. 16. She said she was in a drug treatment center in California. She admitted to receiving a check for $250 for cleaning, which was written in the memo section of the check. She was unable to provide who paid her, what she cleaned or where. She did offer to pay back the $250. Cummings’ last contact with Bird was on Aug. 17. Since then she has quit responding to email.

Christine Bird, 43, of Chandler, has been charged with violation of Oklahoma statute via computer, a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine.