Police: Iowa City man forged checks stolen from inside home

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man is accused of forging checks he stole from inside a home.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, on June 28, a man contacted Hills Bank & Trust when he noticed his checking account balance was lower than it should have been. The man - who is not identified in the complaints - subsequently learned that three of his personal checks had been cashed.

Investigation into the matter showed the checks had been made out to Chester H. Rhodes, 66. Rhodes endorsed the checks and forged the man's signature on them, police said.

Police said Rhodes' driver's license number was recorded on each check when they were cashed in accordance with bank policy. When police spoke with Rhodes, he admitted to entering the man's home using the garage code - which he knew - and taking the checks once inside. He also admitted to writing the checks out to himself and forging the man's signature, police said.

Rhodes has been arrested and faces charges of identity theft, third-degree burglary, second-degree theft and forgery, all Class D felonies separately punishable by up to five years in prison.

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