P. v. Chipman CA3
In October 2014, defendant took courtesy checks from the victim’s mailbox, depositing one for $1,200 and another for $2,700 into what police identified as defendant’s account. Although the victim’s names were on the checks, she neither signed them nor wrote them to defendant, whom she did not know.
After initially denying having deposited the checks into his account, defendant eventually admitted cashing them for a friend, Jessica Gomes, who defendant described as a “shady” drug dealer. Later, defendant told detectives that Gomes, who was married to his son, had asked him to deposit the checks for her because she did not have her own identification. He claimed Gomes told him the money was to be used to help with legal fees for defendant’s son, who was in jail on pending criminal charges. Defendant withdrew the funds, kept $200 for himself, and gave the remainder to Gomes.
Comments on P. v. Chipman CA3