Pressing Charges Over a Stolen Check

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

My step-mother stole a $1349 out of my mail to fuel her gambling addiction. My father and I have the same first name, last name, and middle initial, so she was able to deposit it into his account, and then withdraw it.

The check was the resolution to a dispute with an insurance company through the California Department of Insurance. She destroyed all of the notices that I had received from the CDI and my company over the last two months. I called the CDI to complain and they told me that the check had been cashed. She stole $500 out of my brother's Teen Checking Account last week using my dad's bank account, so I had my dad check his records and he found the check. She admitted to the crime.

I want to press charges, but since my father's bank account was used, I'm afraid that he'll face some degree of liability. Can I press charges against her without hurting my father?

Was your full middle name used on the check? Does your stepmother agree that she took the check and deposited it? If so, is she claiming it was a mistake resulting from the lack of a full middle name on the check, or due to her failure to notice the different middle name? What do she and your father say about paying you back that money?

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Quoting FinneganTimothyD

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My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

My step-mother stole a $1349 out of my mail to fuel her gambling addiction. My father and I have the same first name, last name, and middle initial, so she was able to deposit it into his account, and then withdraw it.

The check was the resolution to a dispute with an insurance company through the California Department of Insurance. She destroyed all of the notices that I had received from the CDI and my company over the last two months. I called the CDI to complain and they told me that the check had been cashed. She stole $500 out of my brother's Teen Checking Account last week using my dad's bank account, so I had my dad check his records and he found the check. She admitted to the crime.

I want to press charges, but since my father's bank account was used, I'm afraid that he'll face some degree of liability. Can I press charges against her without hurting my father?

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Call the police and report it. However, unless you have proof that your step-mother did it, your dad may be on the hook for this.

Have you talked to dad? What has he said about it? How about your bank, or the bank where the check was deposited? What did they have to say?

Another suggestion: Move out of your father's house, or, get a PO Box.

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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Was your full middle name used on the check? Does your stepmother agree that she took the check and deposited it? If so, is she claiming it was a mistake resulting from the lack of a full middle name on the check, or due to her failure to notice the different middle name? What do she and your father say about paying you back that money?

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My middle name was not on the check at all. She admitted to the theft, and says that she did so knowingly. She was trying to pay off some secret credit cards and keep it hidden from my father. My father says he'll try to pay me back, but they are about to start the process of divorce over this incident, and won't be able to begin for a few months as she stole a lot of money on her way out.

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Quoting cdwjava

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Call the police and report it. However, unless you have proof that your step-mother did it, your dad may be on the hook for this.

Have you talked to dad? What has he said about it? How about your bank, or the bank where the check was deposited? What did they have to say?

Another suggestion: Move out of your father's house, or, get a PO Box.

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I spoke to my bank, and they've stated that my father is financially liable. I am in the process of moving out as I head off to university in January, but I needed that money for school fees. As she stole it knowingly, and maliciously, and destroyed my mail for two months to keep it hidden, I would like to press charges.

Then make a police report and see how the police respond.