Lang
4/30/23
A man awaiting sentencing in an Iowa City armed robbery case is back behind bars after authorities say he cashed a fraudulent check in Scott County.
32-year-old Joey Smith Jr. was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 2:15 Sunday morning. Smith was charged with 2nd Degree Theft and Forgery in Scott County on April 19th after he allegedly cashed a fraudulent check at Liberty Bank in New Liberty. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office says the $2,663 check appeared to be written to Smith from a Tipton-based construction company. But company officials told investigators that the check number Smith used had been used to pay a bill at NAPA Auto Parts in Cedar County. They also said Smith had never worked for the company, and would have no lawful reason to possess a company check.
If convicted on the charges from the forgery investigation, Smith faces a maximum of ten years in prison.
Just last month, Smith reached a plea deal with prosecutors after he and his wife, 30-year-old Marcia Smith-Buckhalter, reportedly robbed a man at gunpoint at the couple’s Shamrock Place residence last July. Police say Smith-Buckhalter invited the victim to the apartment to smoke marijuana, but when they arrived Smith pulled out a gun, took the man’s possessions and fired a shot over the man’s head as he fled. Smith was charged with 1st Degree Robbery, Going Armed With Intent, Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon. Sentencing in that case is set for Monday.
Smith-Buckhalter was given a deferred judgement and two years of probation.
