LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks woman was arrested on Monday after she attempted to pass a fraudulent check for nearly $9,800 that she claimed she had received from the city of Clearlake, with a deputy also finding in her possession a number of checks, credit cards and financial information belonging to other people.
Shannon Leann Flores, 32, was arrested Monday afternoon, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said that at 3 p.m. Monday a patrol deputy was dispatched to the Kelseyville Westamerica Bank for a report of check fraud.
He said the deputy contacted Flores at the bank and asked to see the check she was attempting to deposit.
Flores retrieved the check from her wallet and gave it to the deputy. The check was written out to Flores for the amount of $9,762, and it appeared to be from the city of Clearlake, Brooks said.
Flores told the deputy she had received the check from the city of Clearlake, because the city had recently purchased property from her to build a road on, Brooks said.
She went on to tell the deputy that she had just received the check in the mail and had arrived at the bank to cash it, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Flores then began to change her story and said she did not know why someone would just give her a $9,762 check in the mail.
Central Dispatch conducted a records check of Flores and advised she was on searchable probation for theft, he said.
The deputy contacted a bank employee who said Flores had arrived at the bank and attempted to cash the check, Brooks said.
Due to the amount, the bank employee contacted the city of Clearlake to verify the validity of the check. Brooks said the bank employee was told the check was fraudulent and was supposed to be for the amount of $175, payable to a business in Lakeport.
The business had already contacted the city of Clearlake and reported they had not received the check, due to their mail being stolen, Brooks said.
A search of Flores’ vehicle revealed she had possession of numerous checks, credit cards, identification cards and financial information for several different people. Brooks said all of the aforementioned items were seized as evidence.
Flores was arrested for forgery, burglary and possession of stolen property, Brooks said.
As Flores was being transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, she told the deputy she was in possession of a pipe, which was concealed on her, according to Brooks.
Brooks said that when Flores arrived at the jail, a female correctional officer conducted a search and retrieved a glass pipe, which was seized as evidence.
The deputy inspected the pipe and noticed it was loaded, which meant the pipe contained methamphetamine and was ready to be smoked, Brooks said. The approximate gross weight of the methamphetamine retrieved from the pipe was .42 grams.
Brooks said the deputy had the additional charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia added to Flores’ booking.
Flores' bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated she posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through it anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.