Drug, forgery charges net probation

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman was sentenced to probation last week in Red Willow County District Court after being convicted on a pair of felony offenses, stemming from forgery and possession of methamphetamine charges.

The offender, 28-year-old Tina J. Smith of 309 West K Street, was sentenced to probation in three separate criminal cases, ordered by the court to be served at the same time.

Smith accepted plea agreements in two of the cases, which stemmed from multiple drug related offenses, in June of 2014. The plea agreements came within days of her fraudulently writing six checks on a checkbook stolen from a vehicle she had been loaned during a move.

The plea agreements admitted guilt to a Class IV felony offense for possession of methamphetamine; a Class I misdemeanor offense for attempted possession of meth; two infractions for possession of marijuana and one for possession of drug paraphernalia. The agreements also reduced a second Class IV felony for possession of meth to the misdemeanor attempted version and dismissed a Class 3 misdemeanor for illegal possession of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.

Smith was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered to pay a combined $300 in fines on the drug charges.

She was also ordered to serve 36 months probation on a conviction for Class IV felony forgery. Probation in the forgery case was also ordered to be served at the same time as the probation stemming from the drug arrests.

Smith fraudulently wrote six checks between June 5-8, ranging in amounts from $16 to $260, and combining to equal more than $413 in bad checks.

The checks were taken from an SUV she had been allowed to use during a move, according to court documents.

Court documents indicate Smith had been living out of her vehicle during at least one of the drug related arrests and may have been caring for an infant during that time as well.

Several former addresses are listed for Smith during the last year, including 709 W. Third Street and 711 W. Fifth Street in McCook, in addition to a Denver, Colorado, address. 309 West K Street in McCook is listed as her most recent address.