WOMAN ACCUSED OF FORGING CHECKS

A HARBOUR HEIGHTS WOMAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER ALLEGEDLY STEALING AND FORGING CHECKS FROM A WOMAN KNOWN TO HER.  CHARLOTTE COUNTY DETECTIVES SAY THE VICTIM’S BANK CONTACTED THE WOMAN’S ATTORNEY AFTER SEEING SOME SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ON HER CHECKING ACCOUNT.  DEPUTIES CONTACTED THE VENICE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO HELPED IN THE INVESTIGATION AS SOME OF THE CHECKS WERE CASHED IN VENICE WHILE OTHERS WERE CASHED IN PORT CHARLOTTE; ALL WERE MADE OUT TO 45 YEAR OLD JEAN HUDEN FROM THE VICTIM’S ACCOUNT.  THE VICTIM’S ATTORNEY TOLD DEPUTIES THAT SHE CONFRONTED HUDEN, WHO ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED TO STEALING THE CHECKS, FORGING AND CASHING THEM WITHOUT PERMISSION.  SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM SOME OF THE BANKS WAS COLLECTED FOR EVIDENCE.  HUDEN WAS CHARGED WITH NINE COUNTS OF UTTERING A FORGED INSTRUMENT AND NINE COUNTS OF GRAND THEFT.  SHE IS BEING HELD ON $45,000 BOND IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.