MONROE - An Orfordville woman was charged Friday with felony forgery and theft and a Brodhead man was charged with felony and misdemeanor theft after they allegedly took blank checks, a gun and collectible coins from a couple he knows.
Tessa J. Mielke, 24, had a warrant issued for her arrest and faces four charges: felony forgery, felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft.
Travis W. Wuthrich, 28, faces one count of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.
The charges stem from incidents this year and last year in which they allegedly stole from the couple.
According to police reports, Mielke took a check from the woman's checkbook Dec. 27, wrote it out to Knutes Bar and Grill in Orfordville for $50 and tried to exchange it for cash. A Knutes employee reportedly called the woman, who said the check was stolen.
Mielke told investigators she thought the woman had given Wuthrich permission to take a check, fill it out and cash it, police records show. When police interviewed Wuthrich and attempted to verify Mielke's claim, he said he didn't have consent to cash a check at Knutes.
Court documents indicate the woman told police she and her husband had previously let Mielke and Wuthrich take out cash using their debit cards, but always knew what the money would go toward; recently, the woman said, Mielke and Wuthrich had been taking cash, checks and cards without permission.
In May, Mielke and Wuthrich allegedly took a .223-caliber rifle and numerous collectible coins that belonged to the man and Mielke sold them to local resale shops.
According to court records, Wuthrich told police the gun was a gift from the man and Wuthrich was free to sell it.
He later told investigators both he and Mielke have substance abuse problems and are trying to get help, police documents show.
Wuthrich has an initial appearance Aug. 3.
Tessa J. Mielke, 24, had a warrant issued for her arrest and faces four charges: felony forgery, felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft.
Travis W. Wuthrich, 28, faces one count of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.
The charges stem from incidents this year and last year in which they allegedly stole from the couple.
According to police reports, Mielke took a check from the woman's checkbook Dec. 27, wrote it out to Knutes Bar and Grill in Orfordville for $50 and tried to exchange it for cash. A Knutes employee reportedly called the woman, who said the check was stolen.
Mielke told investigators she thought the woman had given Wuthrich permission to take a check, fill it out and cash it, police records show. When police interviewed Wuthrich and attempted to verify Mielke's claim, he said he didn't have consent to cash a check at Knutes.
Court documents indicate the woman told police she and her husband had previously let Mielke and Wuthrich take out cash using their debit cards, but always knew what the money would go toward; recently, the woman said, Mielke and Wuthrich had been taking cash, checks and cards without permission.
In May, Mielke and Wuthrich allegedly took a .223-caliber rifle and numerous collectible coins that belonged to the man and Mielke sold them to local resale shops.
According to court records, Wuthrich told police the gun was a gift from the man and Wuthrich was free to sell it.
He later told investigators both he and Mielke have substance abuse problems and are trying to get help, police documents show.
Wuthrich has an initial appearance Aug. 3.