Man accused of trying to cash in bank employee’s check

HILLTOWN >> A 44-year-old Souderton man apparently picked the wrong place to try to cash a check that allegedly didn’t belong to him.

Officers were called to the Quakertown National Bank branch in Hilltown about 5:51 p.m. Oct. 12 for a fraud report, Hilltown Township Police Department said.

An employee of the bank said Matthew Boyd, who was identified by his driver’s license, brought a check belonging to the employee into the bank to be cashed, Officer James Towhey wrote in the affidavit of probable cause in the case.

The employee said he did not know Boyd, had not given Boyd the check and did not give Boyd permission to cash the check, police said.

The employee had filled out the check, which was supposed to go to a Rotary Club, on Oct. 9, the affidavit said. It was made out for $425 with only the “Pay to the Order of” line not filled in, the affidavit said.

Sometime between Oct. 9 and 12, the employee lost the check outdoors, police said.

“Boyd came to be in possession of this check, which was not given to him, at some point during this time frame and did not attempt to return the check to [the employee],” according to the affidavit. “Boyd filled in the ‘Pay to the Order of line’ with his own name. Boyd also signed his name on the back of the check above the ‘Endorse here’ line. Boyd presented the check at QNB creating the impression the check was his for the purposes of receiving United States currency for it.”

A warrant was issued Oct. 18 for Boyd, who was taken into custody Oct. 25, Hilltown Township Police Department said.

Court documents show a preliminary hearing on charges of forgery, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and access device fraud is scheduled for Nov. 20 before Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage, New Britain.

Boyd is free on $5,000 unsecured bail, the documents show.