CLEARFIELD – Two people allegedly involved with forging almost $10,000 worth of checks appeared before Magisterial District Judge Jerome Nevling for preliminary hearings during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Daniel Michael Brodman, 30, of Curwensville has been charged with conspiracy/receiving stolen property; conspiracy/other reason access device unauthorized by issuer; and possession of access device knowing counterfeit/altered. He had his hearing continued until 11:15 a.m. Nov. 6 at the CCJ.
Brandon Scott Sass, 22, of Hyde has been charged with other reason access device unauthorized by issuer; possession of access device knowing counterfeit/altered; and receiving stolen property. Sass waived all charges to court, and his bail was modified to $25,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause in Brodman’s case, the victim reviewed his checking statements and noticed discrepancies. He went to Northwest Savings Bank and learned several different individuals had cashed checks that totaled almost $10,000.
In video surveillance from July 25, 2012, Shauna H. Zimmerman, 21, of New Millport was shown cashing a check from the victim in the amount of $500 at Northwest Savings Bank. In an interview with police, Zimmerman admitted to cashing the check but wasn’t aware it’d been stolen.
Zimmerman told police Brodman had written out the check. She watched him write out the check and sign it before giving it to her to cash. Brodman, she said, asked her to cash the check because he didn’t have any identification. Zimmerman went to the bank, cashed the check and gave the money to Brodman.
At that time, she said Brodman asked her how she felt about committing her first crime. When she learned the check had been stolen, she became upset. She then provided police with a blank check that Brodman had also asked her to cash. She refused but took the check from Brodman after he stated he’d put her name on it and get her in trouble.
Zimmerman told police she believed Brodman, Sass and Miranda Hamilton, 23, and Leigh Ann Sones, 30, both of Curwensville had cashed checks. She said Hamilton cashed three checks that she’d been given from Sass. Additionally, Sass would brag about shopping at the Altoona Mall to “blow” $600 at a time. Zimmerman said one time Brodman had written a check for $114 for pizza and wings.
According to the affidavit of probable cause in Sass’ case, Sones was shown in surveillance video from Northwest Savings Bank on July 16, 2012. She had a male passenger who appeared to be Sass. Sones cashed a check for $500 from the victim.
Sass was shown in surveillance video cashing a check for $650 from the victim dated July 17, 2012; a check for $919.78 dated July 22, 2012; and a check for $850 dated July 26, 2012. When interviewed by police, Sass admitted to cashing these checks at Northwest Savings Bank. Sass admitted to attempting to cash another check that the bank held and didn’t return.