Arlee man accused of writing 83 bad checks

POLSON — An Arlee man pleaded innocent to the felony charge of issuing a bad check as part of a common scheme, Thursday in Lake County District Court.

Shane Lee Johnson is accused of writing numerous checks from a bank account under his name, knowing that they would bounce.

Court documents state the Lake County Attorney’s Office received approximately 83 checks from seven different merchants located in the county. The checks were written from Johnson’s bank account during the months of March, July and August 2011. All of the checks were stamped “Account Closed” or “NSF” and all bear the defendant’s signature. Johnson failed to make the checks good or make arrangements for repayment, even after the county attorney’s office sent written notice of nonpayment to him.

The court set Johnson’s omnibus hearing for Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 at 9 a.m. with a jury trial commencing on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. He faces a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 10 years and a $50,000 fine.