Newton Police Department
• Leah G. Murphy, 24, of Newton, was arrested on two Jasper County warrants for failure to appear after she was pulled over in the 300 block of South Sixth Avenue West at 6:40 a.m. Friday. She is also charged with two counts of forgery after authorities were called to 100 N. Second Ave. W. at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 6. Officers spoke with the victim who said his checking account was off by $300. He saw Murphy’s name when he looked at a copy of the check and said he did not write a check to her, and he had not seen her since spring. The check was cashed June 29. On Aug. 6, Murphy again tried to cash a $400 check but after checking signatures on other checks, the teller said she needed to confirm with the victim before cashing the check. Murphy said she was busy and wanted the check back. She later admitted to stealing both of the checks. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Carrie E. Riggs, 30, of Newton, is charged with violation of no contact order after authorities were called to the 100 block of North 16th Avenue West at 5 p.m. Aug. 6. Officers spoke with Riggs who said a man she has a no-contact order with had been at her house, and they had met in downtown Cedar Rapids so she could get her children. They then had plans to go to Adventureland together. She said he wanted to see Newton so she allowed him to stay with her. Riggs has a no contact order with him. She was charged with the violation by aiding and abetting. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Austin D. Hester, 23, of Baxter, is charged with driving while license denied, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities pulled him over in the 1000 block of North Third Avenue East at 7:21 p.m. Thursday. Hester knew he did not have a license, but said he was trying to get to a friend’s house to drive him to the hospital to visit his mother. Hester said his sister called him to tell him she was in the hospital with heart issues. The sister denied calling him and said their mother was not in the hospital as far as she knew. Officers found three syringes and a metal spoon with residue in his vehicle along with a marijuana inside a mason jar. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.