Courts

WALKER -- John Gregory Audette, 53, Walker, has been charged in Cass County District Court with felony theft by swindle and theft by false representation in connection with a check kiting scheme.

He is accused of opening numerous banks accounts in the area, then writing a series of checks, worth thousands of dollars, to banks, businesses and individuals on insufficient funds in those accounts and of continuing to write checks after the banks had closed his accounts.

Audette initially was released on his own recognizance after making his first court appearance June 7, but was arrested June 10, with bail set at $50,000, after he violated the conditions of his release by attempting to write another check. He is scheduled to appear in Cass County District Court for an omnibus hearing July 19.