Zwingle man wrote dozens of bad checks, totaling more than $20,000, North Liberty police say

NORTH LIBERTY - A Zwingle man is accused of writing more than 40 bad checks, including three totaling more than $20,000 at three North Liberty businesses.

Robert J. Barton, 44, faces charges of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft.

According to North Liberty police criminal complaints, Barton owned New Concepts Concrete in Zwingle, a city of 100 on the line between Dubuque and Jackson counties.

Barton used the business, which is not registered as a business in Iowa, to open a checking account with Fidelity Bank, police said.

Police said Fidelity closed the account in October 2017 because it was overdrawn, but Barton continued using the checks, police said.

On May 10 this year, Barton wrote a check for $17,540.75 to Junge Ford in North Liberty for a vehicle.

That same day, he wrote a check for $1,725.52 to City Tractor in North Liberty for two concrete saws, police said.

On May 13, he wrote a bad check at Logan Contractors Supply for $3,825.54 worth of tools.

Police said Barton later pawned some of the items he purchased.

According to one criminal complaint, Barton has written 48 checks on the closed accounts in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

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