| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: DERA, MARK 0688 (AR10117742) THE DEFENDANT, MR MICHAEL STEVE, DID KNOWINGLY UTTER, OR PASS OR TENDER IN PAYMENT AS TRUE, ANY SUCH FALSE, ALTERED, FORGED, OR COUNTERFEIT NOTE, OR ANY BANK BILL, CHECK, DRAFT, OR PROMISSORY NOTE, PAYABLE TO THE BEARER THEREOF OR TO THE ORDER OF ANY PERSON, ISSUED AS AFORESAID, KNOWING THE SAME TO BE FALSE, ALTERED, FORGED, OR COUNTERFEIT, WITH INTENT TO INJURE OR DEFRAUD ANY PERSON: TO WIT; THE DEFENDANT FORGED 35 CHECKS IN EXCESS OF $2,000.00, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 831.09. ON 110310, I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE CRYSTAL RIVER COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFICE IN REFERENCE TO A REPORT OF FRAUD. UPON ARRIVAL, AT APPROXIMATELY 1310 HOURS, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, MS MARTHA STEVE (VICTIM), WHO STATED THAT YESTERDAY 110210 SHE WENT TO HER BANK, THE SUNCOAST SCHOOLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, WHERE SHE LEARNED THAT ALL OF HER MONEY HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HER ACCOUNT. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BANK ASKED HER IF SHE HAD BEEN WRITING CHECKS TO MR MICHAEL STEVE (DEFENDANT). THE BANK ALSO MADE COPIES OF 35 CASHED CHECKS ALL MADE OUT TO HER SON THE DEFENDANT, MR MICHAEL STEVE (DEFENDANT). SHE NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT HER SIGNATURE ON THE CHECKS AND THAT IT RESEMBLED HER SON'S SIGNATURE (DEFENDANT). THE VICTIM WAS TOLD THAT NOT ONLY DID THE SUSPECT WRITE OVER $2,000.00 IN CHECKS BUT THAT THAT SHE OWES OVER $2,000.00 IN BANK FEES. THE SUNCOAST SCHOOL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, ALSO FILLED OUT AN AFFIDAVIT OF FORGERY AND PUT OUT AN ALERT FOR ANY FURTHER CHECKS NOT TO BE PAYABLE TO THE DEFENDANT. THE BANK ALSO ADVISED THE VICTIM TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT AND THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ALL THE BANK FEES. THE VICTIM WAS TOLD THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD BEEN CASHING CHECKS IN HIS NAME SINCE JANUARY 2010. THE LAST CHECK WAS CASHED 100410. A GOOD MAJORITY OF THE CHECKS WERE CASHED AT THE MARINA FOOD MART LOCATED AT 5980 WEST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN CRYSTAL RIVER. THE VICTIM FURTHER STATED THAT SHE HAD NEVER GIVEN PERMISSION TO THE DEFENDANT TO TAKE HER CHECKS AND CASH THEM. SHE FEELS THAT HE HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HER BECAUSE SHE HAS A MILD CASE ALZHEIMER'S AND IS ON MEDICATION. THE DEFENDANT LIVES WITH THE VICTIM AND SHE IS AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE AND THAT HE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER MORE AND MORE. I RECEIVED 35 COPIES OF CASHED CHECKS AND ALSO A PROOF OF LOSS QUESTIONNAIRE AND AFFIDAVIT OF FORGERY FROM THE SUNCOAST SCHOOL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (CCSO) RECORDS DIVISION. I ISSUED THE VICTIM AN AGENCY CASE CARD BEARING THIS CASE NUMBER AND MY INFORMATION AND ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THIS AGENCY IF SHE HAD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THE VICTIM ALSO COMPLETED A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WILL BE TURNED IN TO THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (CCSO) RECORDS DIVISION. I THEN RESPONDED TO MARINA FOOD MART LOCATED AT 5980 WEST GULF TO LAKE HIGHWAY IN CRYSTAL RIVER AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANAGER, MR MOHAREB. I ASKED MR MOHAREB IF HE HAD EVER RECEIVED A CHECK from the DEFENDANT. MR MOHAREB STATED THAT HE KNEW WHO I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HAD CASHED SEVERAL CHECKS IN THE PAST. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE DEFENDANT TOLD HIM THAT HIS MOTHER WRITES HIM THE CHECKS. MR MOHAREB STATED THAT HE STOPPED CASHING CHECKS FOR THE DEFENDANT BACK IN OCT 2010. MR MOHAREB ALSO STATED THAT WHENEVER ANYONE CASHES A CHECK AT THE BUSINESS, HE MAKES A PHOTOCOPY OF THE CHECK AND IDENTIFICATION THAT WAS PRESENTED. MR MOHAREB WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME A COPY OF ONE OF THE CHECKS DATED 080910 WITH A COPY OF THE DEFENDANT 'S DRIVER'S LICENSE WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (CCSO) RECORDS DIVISION. I ADVISED MR MAHAREB OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ASKED HIM NOT TO CASH ANYMORE CHECKS FROM THE DEFENDANT FOR CASH FROM HIS MOTHER (VICTIM). I ALSO ASKED HIM IF HE HAD A SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. HE STATED HE BELIEVES THAT HE DOES BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ONE AT THIS TIME. I ALSO ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD FILL OUT A SWORN STATEMENT AND HE STATED THAT HE COULD NOT AT THIS TIME. I ISSUED MR MOHAREB AN AGENCY CASE CARD BEARING THIS CASE NUMBER AND MY INFORMATION AND ADVISED TO CALL THIS DEPUTY WHEN HE CAN GET ME A COPY OF THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM BY TELEPHONE CALL AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 HOURS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD JUST COME HOME FROM WORK. I RESPONDED TO 810 SOUTH CURRY POINT IN HOMOSASSA AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND ADVISED HIM OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIM IN REFERENCE TO THE CHECKS HE HAD WRITTEN. THE DEFENDANT STATED THAT HIS MOTHER GAVE HIM THE CHECKBOOK AND THAT HE SIGNED HIS MOTHER NAME ON EACH CHECK. AT THAT POINT I READ THE DEFENDANT HIS MIRANDA WARNING FROM A PRE-PRINTED CARD. HE ASKED ME IF HE WAS GOING TO BE ARRESTED. I ADVISED HIM YES AND AT THAT POINT THE DEFENDANT WOULD NOT ANSWER ANYMORE QUESTIONS. I PLACED THE DEFENDANT UNDER ARREST, HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED) BEHIND HIS BACK SECURED HIM IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY (CCJ) FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. I ALSO COMPLETED A VICTIM NOTIFICATION FOR THE VICTIM TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE DEFENDANT'S RELEASE. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $35,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE "If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, Florida 34450, Telephone (352) 341-6700, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.” *NOT-EXEMPT* |
