The trial for a Manilla woman accused of writing hundreds of dollars in checks from an account she does not own has been scheduled for early next year. According to Carroll County District Court records, 38-year-old Crystal Fayth Marie Bates faces five counts of forgery, a class D felony. The charges stem from an investigation by the Carroll Police Department into incidents during September. Authorities allege Bates passed two checks for over $600 at Bomgaars on Sept. 10 and 11. She is also accused of forging checks at Hy-Vee from Sept. 11 to Sept. 13. Bates has entered a not guilty plea to all five charges, and her jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 14 at the courthouse. A pretrial conference is set for Jan. 9 to discuss a possible out-of-court resolution to this case. A class D felony in Iowa carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $7,500 in fines.
