When a person writes a check and presents it to a bank or merchant, and does so knowing that their bank account cannot cover it, they are committing a crime called check fraud. Passing a bad check can be defended in court by claiming “you did not know” if the state cannot prove intent. This is because passing a bad check is sometimes unintentional, and rather, a result of poor or irresponsible banking practice. On the other hand, there are countless cases of intentional check fraud, ranging from petty to white collar.
What happens to a person who knowingly writes a bad check? Continue reading to find out.
Intentional and Knowing
In order for a person to be convicted of check fraud, the state must prove that the defendant wrote and submitted the check knowing that there was not enough money in the account to cover the amount. This court standard is called “intentional and knowing”, and it is the primary element to every check fraud case. If a person is simply bad at balancing their check book, it is possible that they did not knowingly write a bad check.
In this case, the state could not prove intent, so the court could not convict the defendant of check crime. However, the defendant can still be held liable in civil court for any bad checks written. In civil court, they can be ordered to pay restitution to the merchant that received the bad check. Not paying back restitution could lead to more lawsuits and poor credit scores.
What to Do if You Write a Bad Check
If you accidentally write a bad check, you must resolve the situation immediately in order to show you are not trying to defraud anyone. This means paying back the bank for any overdrafts and associated fees, or paying back the merchant who cashed the check. In these cases, time is of the essence, so be sure to act fast. Even a phone call to notify the merchant can help avoid criminal charges from being filed.
Intentional Check Fraud
If you intentionally wrote a bad check, it is not likely that the police will come knocking at your door to arrest you. Instead, the state will issue an arrest warrant and you will need to surrender to the jail and then post bail. If you are worried about being arrested or caught, you need to speak with a licensed criminal defense lawyer right away. They can help you develop a plan that best protects your rights and prevents the maximum penalties for your charges.
Here in Indiana, bank fraud is generally charged as a Level 6 Felony. This is punishable by up to 3 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines, and several other court-ordered penalties.
How to Beat Your Indiana Bank Fraud Charges
Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 right away if you are facing criminal charges for bank fraud in Indiana. Our skilled criminal defense lawyers retain decades of trial and litigation experience in criminal law and will get to work the very same day you hire us. We will instantly begin investigating your case and building a powerful defense on your behalf. And if we must, we will take your case to trial if we have to, and challenge any evidence brought against you in an effort to obtain the most favorable resolution possible. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options today.
