CLEARFIELD – A man who passed bad checks all over Clearfield pleaded guilty in 12 cases Monday in Clearfield County Court.
Eric Nelson Decker, 40, 313 Margaretta St., Clearfield, an inmate of the jail, was sentenced to a total of one to five years in state prison. He pleaded guilty to theft by deception and or forgery in 10 cases, theft by unlawful taking in one case and bad checks in the last case. He must pay restitution of more than $9,100.
Decker first came to the attention of police after he wrote several bad checks to Bob’s Army Navy Store in Clearfield Borough. The checks were signed with the name Mike Johnson with an address of South Pine Street in Clearfield.
According to the criminal complaints, Decker opened bank accounts at Clearfield Bank and Trust Co. and Woodforest Bank with a minimum deposit. He then wrote checks to several area businesses in multiple instances that were returned without payment. This includes seven checks to Grice Gun Shop, two checks written to Eagle Haven, 10 checks to JG Food Warehouse, one check to the Shoe Tree , two additional checks to Bob’s Army & Navy Store, one check to Clearfield Pharmacy and five checks to WG Satterlee and Sons.
In the case for which he is charged with theft by unlawful taking, the victim who was missing a dirt bike found it for sale on EBay. He contacted the seller to purchase it and was given Decker’s address. After getting a search warrant, police found the bike in the bushes near the rear of the residence. When asked, Decker said he didn’t know anything about it.
