Charged After Depositing Checks My Boyfriend Stole and Forged

My question involves criminal law for the state of: ohio

My ex had me cash 3 checks from his grandma. Now I am looking at three counts of THEFT (felony 5th degree), and three counts RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY (felony 5th degree), also three counts of FORGERY (felony 5th degree), and THEFT/ELDERLY PERSON OR DISABLED ADULT. I went to court once for Pretrial and I am still so very lost on my options. I have a court appointed lawyer, she tried to get me treatment in lieu but could not because of the theft of the elderly she said. I never stole these checks yes it was stupid of me to cash them, and they where already written when I received them. I have Never been in trouble before and was trying to see what I was facing and what my options where.

If you knew they weren't obtained legitimately, you're guilty even if you didn't put the ink to the paper yourself. Your options are to work diligently with your lawyer.

Ick. Cashing checks from an elderly person who wrote them out to you is messy enough (been there!).

You really need to hire an attorney of your own. Go through your phone book/internet...try to find one who specializes in BOTH Criminal Law and Elder Law. If you can only find Criminal Law, go for it.

I hate to say it, but it's serious. My grandmother wrote me a check for the stove she needed and I put on my credit card...I ended up needing a lawyer. The car I put $8000 down on....is in her name because she wrote me a small check.

With seniors...their finances are scrutinized big time when they need a nursing home or hospital. That $5.00 gift to a grandchild can cause them to be denied coverage.

You really need a lawyer of your own. Your public defender and a personal attorney likely went to school together. BUT....a personal lawyer has more time to dedicate to your case.

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Quoting PandorasBox

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You really need a lawyer of your own. Your public defender and a personal attorney likely went to school together. BUT....a personal lawyer has more time to dedicate to your case.

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I'm not sure what you mean by that. A public defender is a lawyer of her own. Are you suggesting that she retain private counsel instead? There's no guarantee private counsel will be better, and the average professional public defender (if that's what we're talking about) is more competent with criminal cases than the average private criminal defense lawyer.

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and the average professional public defender (if that's what we're talking about) is more competent with criminal cases than the average private criminal defense lawyer.

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Concur. Largely because PDs spend a lot more time in front of the judges, so they're much more familiar with nit-picky little details.

I was suggesting private counsel since they have more time to dedicate to the case, and more time for questions.

That doesn't always happen, and when it does it's because you're paying for the extra attention.

Thanks for clarifying that :)

thanks for all of the replies. My ex who's Grandma the checks was taking from some how got one theft charge out of all of this and I do not understand. He has prior felonys and was facing a b&E and only got a year. I have paid back all the money from the checks I cashed bc I shouldn't have cashed them. I have two kids and just do not want to go to prison.