A beef over failure to pay for 10 cows has landed a Antrim County man in court to face felony charges, police say.
Mark Craft, 39, of Mancelona, allegedly paid a Wexford County individual $19,000 for 10 cows. The cattle owner, however, told police the checks used were returned for insufficient funds.
The purchaser, Craft, was arraigned Aug. 27 in Wexford County’s 84th District Court on four counts of non-sufficient fund check ($500 or more), the Michigan State Police Seventh District said in a post on X.
Troopers from the Cadillac post began investigating in May after the reported victim told police that during four separate transactions, Craft purchased a total of 10 cows and paid with four checks totaling nearly $19,000.
“The victim held the checks until all the business was done and communication with the processing company was over. When the victim cashed the checks at a local bank, they were returned for insufficient funds,” MSP said on X.
Craft was released on a personal recognizance bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 16, MSP said. Wexford County district court records are not available online.
Under state law, non-sufficient fund charges over $500 are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of not more than $2,000 or three times the amount payable, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine, MCL 750.131 says.
This story has been updated to correct the suspect’s county of residence.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Beef over cattle payments lands Antrim County man in court. Why he faces felony charges
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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