A criminal complaint filed through District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office on Thursday said Trooper Adam Haun, of state police in Franklin, interviewed a woman Aug. 8 at her Kennerdell residence because she believed her son, 33-year-old Brent Miller, had stolen a check from her checkbook in early July.
The complaint said the woman did not notice her check was missing until she received her bank statement, which showed $108.89 was unaccounted.
The check was spent at Hovis Auto Supply in Grove City and, after going to the bank to get a copy of the check, the woman noticed the signature in the bottom right corner was forged, according to the complaint.
On Aug. 8, Haun spoke with an employee at Hovis Auto Supply in Grove City, and the employee said Miller attempted to buy vehicle parts with two separate checks on July 29, the complaint said.
The man told Haun that Miller had his mother’s name signed on the bottom of both checks and he had her driver’s license number, but the check reader machine would not accept the checks, the complaint said.
When asked if Miller had ever come to the store before, the employee told Haun he came in on July 6 and purchased an oil filter, six quarts of full synthetic motor oil and two brake drums, according to the complaint.
The employee said Miller used a check that day with his mother’s signature and the total amount was $108.89, the complaint said.
An employee from Hovis Auto Supply in New Castle told Haun an individual came into his store on July 6 with one filter, six quarts of motor oil and two brake drums, but he only returned the oil and brake drums for $95.74 in cash, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, Miller was interviewed by Haun at Butler County Prison on Aug. 10 and before the interview began, Miller said, “Let me guess, you are here about the check.”
Miller later admitted during the interview that he went into his mother’s home to take the check and went to Hovis Auto Supply in Grove City to purchase the parts before eventually returning the products in New Castle, the complaint said.
Also during the interview, Miller told Haun he returned the items for cash so he could purchase opiates for his drug fix, the complaint said.
Miller was arraigned by Lowrey on Thursday on one felony count of burglary, one felony count of forgery and one misdemeanor count of theft by unlawful taking.
He was placed in the Venango County jail after failing to post $10,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing in the case has tentatively been scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.
