La Plata, MD – Laportia Chardae Davis, 25 was not prepared for what happened to her Wednesday, Nov. 30. She appeared before Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West for sentencing after entering a plea over the summer to possessing a counterfeit document.
Davis began crying as she was escorted from the courtroom after being sentenced to 60 days for cashing a check issued by the Charles County Government for $2,298 for new counters in an office building. Charles County Assistant States Attorney Jeremy Widder said the county treasurer’s office had to close all accounts payable and open new accounts because of the theft.
“The check ends up being cashed by Ms. Davis at the Bank of America in Iverson Mall,” Widder said. “The defendant had written her name over the cabinet maker’s name. She is seen on bank video depositing the printed check.”
Widder pointed out that Davis has two prior convictions in Virginia on similar thefts. “I feel jail time is appropriate in this case,” he said, “especially when it’s a check with taxpayer’s dollars. She has not paid restitution.”
“She was paid $50 to cash the check,” Charles County Assistant Public Defender John Getz told the court. “The man who stole the check was never charged. I hoped she would have restitution today, but she does not,” Getz said. “She admitted she was wrong. She fully cooperated with police.”
“I intend on paying,” Davis told West. “I fully accept responsibility. It was a big wake up for me.” The judge said he would grant work release so that she could begin paying restitution and sentenced her to five years with all but 60 days suspended, giving her credit for four days of time served.
He ordered her to begin paying $50 a month beginning April 1, 2017. West also imposed five years of unsupervised probation upon her release. “Once she pays restitution, I’ll close out her probation,” he told Getz.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com