Woman accused of forging checks from employer

A Phil Campbell woman was arrested Thursday for allegedly forging checks from a man she was working for, officials said.

Ashley Nicole Sutherland, 26, 2165 Broad St., Phil Campbell, was charged with nine counts of second-degree forgery and one count of second-degree theft of property.

According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, investigators received a report the second week in February from an elderly victim who stated he had between $800 and $900 missing from his checking account.

Hargett said once investigators started looking into the matter, it appeared that Sutherland was altering checks she received from the victim for work she did around his home.

“Ms. Sutherland was changing numbers on checks she had already received to make it look like a higher amount than the check was originally written for,” Investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said.

Lowery said she also allegedly wrote one check outright that the victim never actually gave her.

Hargett said after the investigation was complete, the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office felt there was enough evidence to formally charge Sutherland with the crimes and she was arrested on Thursday.

Sutherland is currently being held without bond due to bond violations in a previous felony case.