HOT CHECKS DIVISION
The Hot Checks Division of the
Williamson County Attorney’s Office is the clearinghouse for merchants
and citizens to report those who write worthless checks. Our Office can
use the criminal courts system to see that restitution is paid on the
checks, check writers are identified and punished, and future crimes are
deterred.
NEW!
For your convenience, the Williamson County Attorney's Office
Hot Checks Division along with Western Union now provide the
ability to
Pay Hot Checks Online!
Merchants/
Citizens
Below, you can print the affidavit that needs to be turned into the
Hot Checks office. Please make your choice of Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft
Word.
or
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MAXIMUM Penalties for
Theft by Check:
Fine Amounts Do Not Include
Restitution, Fees, or Court Costs
|
| Value of Property Less than
$20 |
Fine of $500 |
| Value of Property $20 to $500 |
Fine of $2,000 Plus
Six Months Jail Time |
| Value of Property $500 to
$1,500 |
Fine of $4,000 Plus
Jail Time of One Year |
| Value of Property $1,500 to
$20,000 |
Fine of $10,000 Plus State
jail time of Six Months to Two Years |
| Value of Property $20,000 to
$100,000 |
Fine of $10,000 Plus Prison
time of Two to Ten Years |
| Value of Property $200,000
plus |
Fine of $10,000 Plus Prison
Time of Five to Ninety Years or Life |
PROSECUTORS OFTEN RECOMMEND
FINE-ONLY OR EVEN REDUCTIONS TO LOWER LEVEL OFFENSES IF THE RESTITUTION
AND FEES ARE PROMPTLY PAID IN FULL!
IF RESTITUTION AND FEES ARE NOT PAID, THE STANDING PLEA BARGAIN OFFER IN
THEFT BY CHECK CASES IS THE MAXIMUM JAIL SENTENCE POSSIBLE!
Restitution and fees may be paid in the form of
CASH,
MONEY ORDER OR CASHIER'S CHECK
ONLY. The hot checks division DOES NOT accept checks, or
credit cards. If you owe money on a hot check, please call
943-1136
to arrange payment.
The Hot
Checks Division and County Attorney Investigators attempt to contact
those accused of theft by check in order to confirm the facts of the
case and/or arrange a payment schedule. In many instances, the
matter can be resolved and restitution made without a case being
filed. If the person cannot be contacted or fails to follow an
arranged payment schedule, then a warrant will be issued for their
arrest.
CHECKS THAT THE HOT CHECKS DIVISION WILL
ACCEPT:
Checks
stamped “Account Closed;”
Checks
stamped “NSF” or Insufficient Funds which are less than 30 days old;
Checks
stamped “NSF” or Insufficient Funds which are older than 30 days if
they are accompanied by a white certified mail receipt or green
certified mail card.
CHECKS
THAT THE HOT CHECKS DIVISION CANNOT ACCEPT:
Checks taken
outside of
Williamson County;
Checks where
all or part of the property has been returned or partially paid;
Checks for
payments on charge accounts;
Post-dated
checks.
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