A Nesquehoning woman has been charged with forgery related offenses after she allegedly cashed a former housemate's payroll checks.

Stephanie Lynn Kech, 30, of 239 E. Catawissa St., was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, Tamaqua, on Tuesday. She was charged with two felony counts of forgery, theft by deception and receiving stolen property. The charges were filed by Tamaqua Police Cpl. Henry Woods.According to the affidavit, Kech had been residing with Shane Bartenope in Coaldale late last year. While Bartenope was away from the area he called Keck and explained he was expecting two payroll checks from Graham Packaging in Hazleton. Keck told Bartenope the checks hadn't arrived and then went to the Hazleton company with a letter purported to be from Bartenope authorizing her to pick up the checks.The payroll department refused to honor the letter saying the signature on the letter did not match a Bartenope signature they had on file. Later the checks were mailed to Bartenope's address.At that time Keck allegedly signed the checks and had them cashed at We R Cigarettes in Tamaqua. After some time passed Bartenope contacted the company to ask about his paychecks.Told they had been sent and cashed, Bartenope contacted police.A warrant was issued for Keck's arrest and she was picked up Tuesday when she appeared at district court on another matter.Bayer set bail at $15,000 unsecured.