A 20 year old is behind bars after pleading guilty of forgery and avoidance of prosecution.  According to Washington County Attorney Larry Brock, Rico Damonte Stringer pled guilty in the Washington County District Court today.  Stringer was accused of forging his grandmother’s signature on a Social Security disability check in September of last year and cashing it at a local Washington business.

He was also accused of leaving the state of Iowa around April 10th of this year to avoid a trial on the forgery charge as well as an unrelated sexual abuse in the third degree charge.  Stringer was arrested on or about July 1st by the St. Clair County, Illinois Sheriff’s Department.  Following the guilty pleas, Stringer has been sentenced to two consecutive five-year prison sentences.

Those assisting in the investigation were the Washington Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Clair County, Illinois Sheriff’s Department.

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