Avon woman charged with forgery, fraud

Melkey

Indiana State Police detectives have filed charges against an Avon woman after investigating a complaint alleging forgery, fraud, theft and identity deception.

In early September 2008, First Sgt. Scott Stockton received information from Carol Hawkins stating that she and Jane Melkey, 45, of Avon were partners in a business known as Maid to Order. Hawkins alleged that Melkey had fraudulently opened a credit card account through Chase using her information without her knowledge and had used that credit card to rack up debt of over $6,000.

During the course of the investigation, Stockton and Indiana State Police Detective Brent Gulinson obtained information that confirmed the credit card's intended use was not for the business Maid to Order, but was being used by Melkey for personal purchases.

Detectives detailed the total loss to be $6,017.26.

Melkey turned herself in at the Putnam County Jail Wednesday at 6:40 a.m. at her initial hearing in Putnam County Circuit Court, she entered not guilty pleas to all charges and informed the court that she would hire her own counsel.

Her bond was set at $10,000 with 10 percent allowed. She posted the 10 percent and was released from jail.

A pretrial conference has been set for May 6.

Melkey has been charged with one count of Class C felony forgery and Class D felonies fraud, identity deception and theft. If convicted on all charges, she could receive a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.