Man arrested on 14-year-old warrant for bad checks

A warrant was issued 14 years ago for a man accused of writing $1,840 in bad checks, and on Tuesday he made his initial court appearance in that case.

Michael A. Lacey was arrested on a $1,000 warrant for issuing a bad check (common scheme), a felony, on July 25 by the Montana Highway Patrol in Lewis and Clark County.

According to Lacey’s court file, he issued 16 checks ranging from $40 to $200 between May 31, 2001, and July 6, 2001. The file contains copies of the checks issued to Lacey by Heritage Bank out of Fort Benton. The file shows he cashed the checks at several Great Falls casinos and a bar.

Lacey’s address on the checks was in Black Eagle.

Court documents say Lacey posted the $1,000 bond the same day he was arrested.

According to court testimony, Lacey lives in Nevada. Prosecutor Josh Racki indicated Lacey will be allowed to return home if he gets permission from the Cascade County Attorney’s Office, which involves signing an extradition waiver before leaving.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 13.