Elkins man faces charges
ELKINS — A Randolph County man is facing several felony charges after allegedly forging a number of checks to a local business.
Joshua Norman Williams, 29, of Elkins, is charged with two felony counts of forgery and two felony counts of uttering. He is free on a $10,000 cash or surety bond, set by Randolph County Chief Magistrate Rob Elbon.
On Feb. 13, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy M.P. Dyer was taking a report of an alleged attempted breaking and entering at Elkins Motor Sport, according to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court.
While on scene, the owner of the business said he received a 1099 form from Geico Insurance Co. with a compensation amount of $6,821.34. The business owner said he would contact Geico and request a copy of any checks made to Elkins Motor Sports referenced in the 1099 form.
The following day, Elkins Motor Sports was provided two checks from Geico, one in the amount of $3,788.89 dated Aug. 19, and another in the amount of $3,032.45 dated Oct. 17.
The back of each of the checks showed the signatures of Williams and a member of the family who owns the business, the complaint states.
Dyer spoke with the owner of the business who told him the signatures on the back of the checks did not belong to his family member.
On Feb. 17, Dyer traveled to Elkins Motor Sports and spoke with the business owner’s family member and obtained a statement.
He said the signatures on the checks were not his and he had not given anyone permission to sign his name to the checks, according to the complaint.
He added Williams had asked him to sign one of the checks for him but he refused.
While speaking with Williams about another case concerning similar issues, he told him the alleged victim said he could sign the checks.
Both checks were made out to Elkins Motor Sports and Joshua Williams, the complaint states.
Other arrests in Randolph County include:
• Trisha Michelle Maxson, 28, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of third-offense shoplifting. She is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Jan. 28, Deputy A.M. Channell, of the RCSO, was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifting complaint.
Upon arrival, Channell spoke with the asset protection agent who said he observed Maxson take a pair of white tennis shoes and several “scrub clothing items” from the store and exit without paying for them.
Channell observed surveillance footage that shows Maxson walking through the store with a green pair of flip flops on. Later in the video she is seen exiting with the white tennis shoes on, according to the complaint.
Channell also noticed Maxson take an “orangish-pink clothing item” and put it in a handbag that she was carrying. Maxson then went into one of the checkout aisles and when she leaves, the items can no longer be seen.
Maxson was convicted of first-offense shoplifting on July 8, 2011, and second-offense shoplifting on May 6, 2013, the complaint states.