Holiday Shopping Spree Results in Felony Charges for Crockett Woman 

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – A Crockett female faces additional charges for fraud and forgery after she was arrested at the end of 2016 for illegal drug distribution along with several counts of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information items.

Christina Ann Evans, 38, was arrested on Jan. 29 and charged with three counts of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information items as well as one count of forgery of a financial instrument.

According to the first of several affidavits of probable cause, Evans’ recent arrest stemmed from incidents in November and December of 2016.

The affidavit reported a female complainant received “a notice of debt collection” through the mail in early December for a returned check – written at the Crockett Walmart location – in the amount of $326.28.

“(The complainant) said the check was used on her old checking account which was closed over a year ago,” according to the affidavit.

An investigation into the matter was launched and according to the legal documents, Crockett Police Department detectives learned a driver’s license number issued to a 68-year-old female, with a Carrollton address, was used on the $326.85 check.

Video surveillance provided by Walmart, however, showed the person responsible for writing the check appeared to be a 35- to 40-year-old female with long blonde hair, the affidavit indicated.

Due to recent interactions, Crockett law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Evans and requested warrants for her arrest on charges of fraud and forgery.

In a separate probable cause warrant, it was stated Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Investigator Michael McCreight took a report of identity theft on Dec. 23.

“It was reported that an unknown subject used the complainant’s check at Brookshire’s in Palestine. Investigator McCreight was able to obtain video footage from the store and on Nov. 29, 2016, the suspect used a forged check in the amount of $169.53,” the probable cause affidavit stated.

“Investigator McCreight reviewed the video and was able to identify Evans. McCreight was familiar with Evans and knows her personally due to numerous dealings with her,” the affidavit, in regard to the Palestine incident, further stated.

A fourth affidavit of probable cause reported Evans also used fraudulent identification to purchase items valued at over $800 at the Palestine Walmart on Nov. 30.

“A report was filed with the HCSO (on Nov. 30) in reference to someone using a complainant’s check to make purchases at Walmart in Palestine. Investigators went to Walmart in Palestine and obtained video from four different purchases. Investigators learned that four different charges were made on four different checks for items in Walmart in the total amount of $818,” the second Palestine related affidavit reported.

The HCSO investigators viewed the video footage and were “… able to identify Christina Anne Evans as the suspect in the video. Investigators were familiar with Evans and were able to positively identify her as the suspect in the video.”

Evans had previously been arrested for her role in the distribution of methamphetamine in December of 2016.

At the time of her arrest in December, arrest reports indicated Evans was in possession of seven other individuals’ identification information which included checkbooks, checks, driver licenses and credit cards.

She also was charged in December 2016 with passing checks at Brookshire’s in Palestine that belonged to a female victim who currently resides in Pennsylvania.

The forgery count is considered a third degree felony. According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

The fraudulent use or possession counts are considered as state jail felonies. According to Section 12.35 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days. In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Evans is currently being held at the Houston County Jail on bonds totaling $22,500.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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