FAIRMONT — Two Fairmont women are facing felony charges in Martin County.

Michelle Marie Cline, 39, has been charged with two counts of check forgery. Hope Kristine Kain, 19, has been charged with one count of check forgery. All of the charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

At 2:04 p.m. June 6, a Fairmont police officer received a phone call from a woman in Lakeville who said she wanted to report check forgery on her and a relative’s checking account. The woman said the relative lives in Fairmont and met a couple she felt sorry for and allowed to move into her residence. The woman said the family had been living with the relative for the past three months.

The woman said her relative’s checkbook had been stolen and several checks had been cashed at Bank Midwest by a 16-year-old male who was Cline’s son. The woman indicated Cline and her children were the ones staying at her relative’s house. She explained that more than $3,000 worth of checks were cashed at Bank Midwest.

The officer went to Bank Midwest and spoke with a witness, who advised that several checks had been cashed by the juvenile for more than $3,000.

Another officer went to the juvenile’s residence and advised some people outside why he was there. The officer was told the juvenile was on a plane to visit relatives in Delaware.

Cline identified herself as the juvenile’s mother, and the officer advised her that the juvenile had forged checks. Cline said a relative of the juvenile had opened a checking account at Bank Midwest and the juvenile had been dropped off to deposit some checks into a savings account. When advised of the checks that had been cashed since May 3, Cline said she was shocked. The officer advised Cline it appeared the checks had been forged by two different people. Cline said she had no idea this was occurring.

The officer was informed by the other officer that Cline was on probation for check forgery.

During the course of the investigation, the second officer determined additional forged checks had been written on the account to Walmart, Kwik Trip and Hy-Vee.

On June 11, the officer spoke with the juvenile by phone, who indicated that when he was at the woman’s relative’s apartment, she just gave him a check. The juvenile said she signed the checks and he denied signing the checks himself.

On June 13, the officer reviewed video surveillance at the Hy-Vee gas station in Fairmont, where he observed Cline making a purchase.

A second check was passed May 28 at Hy-Vee, and video shows the juvenile with Cline as Cline fills out the check at the register and hands it to the cashier.

A third check was passed at HyVee on June 4, and video once again shows Cline filling out the check.

On June 23, the officer again spoke with Cline at the Martin County Law Enforcement Center and advised her of the video footage, stating he wanted to know her role in the forgeries. Cline was read her rights and agreed to answer questions.

Cline indicated she did not know about all of the checks passed at Bank Midwest, but admitted to forging the woman’s relative’s name on six of the checks. Cline also admitted to signing and presenting forged checks at Kwik Trip, Hy-Vee and Walmart.

When asked why she wrote the checks, Cline said she is having a hard time financially and is trying to take care of her family.

Two of the checks were written to Kain, totaling $500. The officer met with Kain on June 23 at the Martin County Law Enforcement Center. Kain was read her rights and agreed to answer questions.

When asked if she knew why she was there, Kain said that her friend, the juvenile, gave her some checks. Kain said he needed to get them cashed as he did not have a bank account at Bank Midwest. Kain said she did not think anything of it, nor why she was asked to do it. Kain said she had a savings account at the bank so she does not get charged for cashing checks.

Kain indicated she was fishing with Cline and the juvenile when they asked if she could cash a check for them. On that occasion, she saw Cline write out and sign a check and then give it to her.

Kain said she now understands the checks were forged, but indicated she did not pay attention to whom the account belonged. Kain indicated she did not receive any money from the checks.