Sheldon, Iowa — After pleading “not guilty” last week, a Lakefield, Minnesota woman who is accused of passing fraudulent checks in Sheldon has pled guilty to a lesser charge and has been sentenced.
According to O’Brien County Jail records, 26-year old Ashley Jean Swanson of Lakefield was arrested on a warrant accusing her of Theft in the 2nd Degree, which is a Class “D” Felony.
Sheldon Police say the charge stems from incidents in March of this year, in which Swanson allegedly passed three fraudulent checks, totaling more than $1-thousand, at the Sheldon Hy-Vee store.
Swanson changed her plea to “guilty” on Wednesday in exchange for the charge against her being lowered to Theft in the Third Degree, which Iowa code says is an aggravated misdemeanor, not a felony.
According to court records, Swanson was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with 307 days suspended. She must pay a $625 fine, with another $625 suspended, and she will serve one year of informal probation to the Iowa Department of Corrections. She must also pay $1043.72 in restitution to the Sheldon Hy-Vee store.
