Lenz

TAMA — A Pomeroy livestock dealer with a history of forgery has been charged with felony theft and fraud as a result of allegedly stealing a load of cattle and writing a bad check at the Tama Livestock Auction in excess of $10,000 following an investigation by the Tama Police Department.

Robert Thomas Lenz, 56, of Pomeroy made an initial appearance in Tama County district court on Feb. 20 on charges including three counts of first degree theft and one count of fraudulent practice — all Class C felonies.

According to court documents, charges in the case stem from incidents which took place between Jan. 19 and Jan. 26.

Lenz – who operates Lenz Livestock – bid a total of $17,041.25 on 18 head of cattle on Jan. 26 at the Tama Livestock Auction in Tama and allegedly loaded the animals without paying for them. They were then sold to another individual.

At the time of the sale, Lenz had allegedly already issued a bad check to Tama Livestock Auction on Jan. 19, in the amount of $30,313.60 which, according to the criminal complaint, was for 30 head of cattle.

The investigation began on Feb. 2 when Tama Livestock Auction owner Jason Lekin reported the Jan. 19 bad check to the Tama Police Department.

Lekin indicated to police he had contacted Lenz multiple times and been assured the check was good. Lenz, however, allegedly then asked Lekin to hold the check until a certain date for deposit. It was sent for deposit on Jan. 20.

According to trial documents, the check was drawn on the Lenz Livestock account of Robert Lenz at the First Community Bank in Newell. The check was not paid when presented.

On March 1, Lenz posted a cash bond in the amount of $500 and was released from custody after having his release conditions amended. Arraignment is set for March 24, at 9 a.m.

Lenz is a habitual offender as a result of having two prior felony convictions including a felony drug conviction in Oklahoma in 2003, a felony forgery conviction in Oklahoma in 2008, and a felony forgery conviction in Calhoun County in June of last year.

In the Calhoun County case, Lenz forged a series of checks in his ex-girlfriend’s name and attempted to deposit the checks, according to the criminal complaint. Attorney Allan M. Richards of Tama is representing Lenz in the current case.