Missing Checkbook Leads to New Felony Charges Against Erica Baldwin
TROY, Mo. — A missing checkbook and checks cashed at two banks have led to eight new felony charges against Erica Nicole Baldwin, who already faces charges in a separate case previously covered by Lincoln CountyWatch.
The new case involves five counts of forgery and three counts of stealing $750 or more. Three checks cashed at Bank of Old Monroe totaled $3,650, with two additional checks reported cashed at Peoples Bank & Trust.
The complaint centers on a September visit to a Troy resident’s home and the discovery of missing checks about two weeks later. Baldwin is not in custody in connection with the new case.
Erica Nicole Baldwin, Troy, Missouri
CHARGES
Forgery — Five counts, Class D felonies
Stealing $750 or more — Three counts, Class D felonies
The resident returned home Sept. 9 to find Baldwin in a vehicle in her driveway. Baldwin said she had stopped to visit and accompanied her inside.
The resident’s account describes Baldwin taking a checkbook from a desk while leaving the cover behind. The visit ended with Baldwin saying she needed to leave for work.
On Sept. 24, the resident noticed checks were missing and contacted Peoples Bank & Trust on Cherry Street. She learned that two had been cashed by Baldwin and reported that her signature had been forged.
She reported the matter to Troy police that morning. After realizing checks from another account were also missing, she contacted Bank of Old Monroe and learned that three more had been cashed: $800, $850 and $2,000.
The amounts of the two Peoples Bank & Trust checks were not listed in the available statement, so the full amount involved has not been established in the records reviewed.
The new charges come months after Lincoln CountyWatch reported on a separate complaint involving Baldwin and unauthorized credit card purchases.
In that earlier case, a customer provided card information to pay for services and later discovered purchases at Scooter’s Coffee that the customer said were not authorized. Our January coverage reported that Baldwin had been arrested and released.
The new filing references pending charges for stealing, fraudulent use of a credit or debit device and tampering with physical evidence in case 26L6-CR00041-01. Those charges are separate from the missing-check case.
The latest complaint adds five forgery counts and three felony stealing counts under 26L6-CR00622, bringing a second set of reported unauthorized financial transactions before the court.
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