Jennifer Marlow Chose, 44, of Rose Creek was charged on Thursday in Mower County District Court with felony check forgery-offer/possess with intent to defraud, misdemeanor driving after suspension of her license and two counts of misdemeanor theft by false representation.

On March 7, Lyle Police Chief Tom Herrick met with the manager of Freeborn Co-op gas station in Lyle regarding Chose, according to the complaint. The manager said Chose, who used to work at the gas station, had got gas and cigarettes (a total of $31.96) on Feb. 26, but did not pay for them. After her credit card was denied, Chose allegedly told the clerk she would be back the next day to pay the bill.

On March 9, Adams Police Chief Mike Gerhke met with the manager of Corky’s Corner in Adams, where Chose also used to work, over a similar situation, according to the complaint. The manager alleged that on Feb. 17, Chose had charged $40.45 in gas, but told the clerk her credit card was “cracked” and she would return in a few days to pay the bill. The manager attempted to contact Chose, to no avail.

Herrick attempted to make contact with Chose at her residence in Rose Creek, according to the complaint. Two vehicle registered to Chose were there, but no one answered the door.

On March 13, Gerhke met with the principal of Sacred Heart School in Adams, where Chose worked, regarding a stolen check, according to the complaint. She said a daycare check made out to the school in the sum of $476 was in the drop box on March 11. The next day she received a call from a teller at United Farmers State Bank in Adams, who told her that Chose was at the drive-thru, attempting to cash the check.

Gerhke met with the teller, who said the check was from an Austin resident and made out to “Sacred Heart Daycare,” according to the complaint. She found it suspicious that Chose was trying to cash the check instead of deposit it into the school’s account, although Chose allegedly claimed the school had asked her to cash it. She also noticed the check did not have the school’s endorsement stamp. She told Chose she would not cash the check and Chose drove away, after which she called the principal. The teller also advised there was video of the incident.

Chose was arrested on Tuesday after Gerkhe stopped her for driving with a suspended license on 620th Avenue, according to the complaint. Gehrke and Herrick spoke to Chose at the Mower County Jail.

Chose allegedly denied going to the bank, but changed her story and said she was there to check her savings account. She also claimed to have paid the bill at Corky’s Corner and denied charging anything at Freeborn Co-op. When Herrick explained that she was on surveillance video, she allegedly admitted that she signed the check and attempted to cash it and to not pay for the gas and cigarettes.

Chose will appear in court again on April 5.