Scott City woman pleads guilty to five charges

Melissa D. James, 32, of Scott City, pleaded guilty on Monday to five out of seven felony charges of forgery and attempted theft of the medication Xanex and hydrocodone.

Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis scheduled sentencing for Jan. 23 and ordered a sentencing assessment report to determine restitution if he sentences her to probation.

Even though James admitted to committing the felonies, "apparently there's a dispute about the amount of money that's owed," Lewis said.

James pleaded guilty as charged to three class C felony counts of forgery, receiving $1,583.43 for writing out three checks to herself without permission from her employer, Dr. Paul W. Clarke at 1319 N. Mount Auburn Road. However, a sworn affidavit submitted by detective Brad Smith stated that she wrote out 107 checks, totaling $47,806.08, to herself and the Family Support Payment Center.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle also charged James on Oct. 6 with four class D felony counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance from various pharmacies in Cape Girardeau. James admitted to attempting to refill prescriptions on Xanex and hydrocodone on two occasions after her employment was terminated.

James faces a maximum of 21 years in prison on the forgery counts and up to eight years in prison in the fraud counts.