Three men from the Lake of the Ozarks area have been charged with one count of forgery each for an incident that occurred Wednesday in Jefferson City.
Joseph Belcher, 38, of Macks Creek; Joseph Master, 25, of Camdenton, and Matthew Denny, 18, of Camdenton, allegedly took a check they knew to be stolen to cash it and obtain $4,500, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.
Lake Ozark Police reported checks had been stolen from Vince Kolb Auto Sales and vehicle keys had been taken during a burglary from the business. The keys were recovered.
The men attempted to cash a check for $4,500 from the business Wednesday at Jefferson Bank on Southwest Boulevard in Jefferson City.
Court records show Belcher and Masters have lengthy criminal histories. Belcher has been charged in the past with passing bad checks, burglary, tampering with a motor vehicle and theft. Masters has a history of drug charges and had an active felony warrant for violation of a court order when he was arrested.