TITLE 18

CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

CHAPTER 31

FALSE PRETENSES, CHEATS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS

18-3106.  Drawing check without funds — Drawing check with insufficient funds — Prima facie evidence of intent — Standing of person having acquired rights — Probation conditions. (a) Any person who for himself or as the agent or representative of another or as an officer of a corporation, willfully, with intent to defraud shall make or draw or utter or deliver, or cause to be made, drawn, uttered or delivered, any check, draft or order for the payment of money upon any bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, knowing at the time of such making, drawing, uttering or delivery that the maker or drawer has no funds in or credit with such bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, for the payment in full of such check, draft or order upon its presentation, although no express representation is made with reference thereto, shall upon conviction be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term not to exceed three (3) years or by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b)  Any person who for himself or as the agent or representative of another or as an officer of a corporation, willfully, with intent to defraud shall make, draw, utter or deliver, or cause to be made, drawn, uttered or delivered, any check, draft or order for the payment of money in the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more, or any series of transactions as defined in subsection (f) of this section, upon any bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, knowing at the time of such making, drawing, uttering or delivery that the maker or drawer has some but not sufficient funds in or credit with such bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, for the full payment of such check, draft or order or series of transactions upon presentation, although no express representation is made with reference thereto, shall upon conviction be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term not to exceed three (3) years, or by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c)  Any person who for himself or as the agent or representative of another or as an officer of a corporation, willfully, with intent to defraud, shall make, draw, utter or deliver, or cause to be made, drawn, uttered, or delivered, any check, draft or order for payment of money, in a sum less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), which is not part of a series of transactions as defined in subsection (f) of this section, upon any bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, knowing at the time of such making, drawing, uttering or delivery that the maker or drawer has some but not sufficient funds in or credit with such bank or depositary, or firm, or person, or corporation, for the full payment of such check, draft or order upon its presentation, although no express representation is made with reference thereto, shall upon conviction for a first offense be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment; and upon a second conviction the person so convicted shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, however, that upon a third or subsequent conviction, the person so convicted shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term not exceeding three (3) years, or by a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(d)  As against the maker or drawer thereof, the making, drawing, uttering or delivering of such check, draft or order as aforesaid shall be prima facie evidence of intent to defraud and of knowledge of no funds or insufficient funds, as the case may be, in or credit with such bank, or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation, for the payment in full of such check, draft or order upon its presentation. This prima facie intent to defraud and knowledge of no funds or insufficient funds, as the case may be, shall not be negated by evidence that the check draft or order was for payment of a preexisting debt, including open accounts. The word "credit" as used herein shall be construed to mean an arrangement or understanding with the bank or depositary, or person, or firm, or corporation upon whom such check, draft or order is drawn for the payment of such check, draft or order.

(e)  Any person having acquired rights with respect to a check which is not paid because the drawer has no funds, no account or insufficient funds, shall have standing to file a complaint under this section, regardless of whether he is the payee, holder or bearer of the check.

(f)  For purposes of this section a "series of transactions" means a series of checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money which are less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) individually but in the aggregate total two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more, and which are made, uttered, drawn or delivered in violation of this section as part of a common scheme or plan.

(g)  If a sentence of probation is ordered for violation of this section, the court as a condition of probation may require the defendant to make restitution on all checks issued and which are unpaid at the date of commencement of the probation in addition to any other terms and conditions appropriate for the treatment and rehabilitation of the defendant.

History:

[I.C., sec. 18-3106, as added by 1972, ch. 336, sec. 1, p. 884; am. 1979, ch. 214, sec. 1, p. 597; am. 1994, ch. 184, sec. 1, p. 602; am. 1996, ch. 306, sec. 1, p. 1004; am. 1998, ch. 324, sec. 1, p. 1048.]