$33K Bad Check Sparks Criminal Charges

A Dexter woman faces felony charges after she attempted to pass a $33,480 check without sufficient funds from a Crawford County business.

Mikayla M. Hall was charged Aug. 6 following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Hall is accused of stealing $25,000 or more and passing a bad check.

According to the probable cause statement, Michael and Mikayla Hall purchased a 2026 Lakota gooseneck horse trailer from Cowtown USA on July 24.

Documents provided to investigators showed the trailer’s total purchase price was $113,408. Of that amount, $80,000 was financed through Colonial Loan Association, with the Halls listed as borrowers.

A personal check for $33,480 was provided to Cowtown USA for the remaining amount. The check was drawn on a First Midwest Bank account bearing the names of Michael R. Hall, Mikayla M. Hall and Hall’s Lawn Service and was signed by Mikayla Hall, according to the probable cause statement. 

Investigators allege Cowtown USA attempted to deposit the check twice between July 24 and Aug. 4, but it was returned both times for insufficient funds. A Cowtown USA representative told investigators Hall had been contacted about the check and had promised to make it good but had not done so as of Aug. 4. 

The highway patrol contacted Hall Aug. 5. According to the affidavit, Hall told detectives the money was not in the account when the check was written but maintained she had sufficient funds elsewhere.

Hall allegedly said she planned to deposit the money into a bank account and wire $33,480 to Cowtown USA. She acknowledged owing the balance but claimed one of the attempts to deposit the check had failed because of an issue involving an alleged forgery or alteration of the check. 

Detectives then contacted First Midwest Bank in Poplar Bluff. A bank representative confirmed the check had been processed twice and returned both times because of insufficient funds, according to the affidavit. The representative also disputed Hall’s claim that an alleged alteration or forgery played a role in either return.