State v. Daugherty

Defendant appeals from his conviction of forgery following a bench trial in the District Court of Silver Bow County.

In March 1977, a federal tax return check was stolen from the mailbox of Hubert J. Worring in Butte, Montana. This check was allegedly endorsed and cashed at Ossello’s by defendant John Edward Daugherty and Donna LaTray on March 28, 1977. They allegedly received a television set, a CB radio and some cash in the exchange.

After determining that the endorsement was forged, the federal government stopped payment on the check. Ossello’s filed a complaint with the federal government…