By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County authorities say a truck driver took business checks from a China Grove company and cashed them in his own name at a local bank. Arrest warrants say the man was subcontracted to work for the company.

The Sheriff’s Office charged Jeffrey Heath Lyerly, 51, of the 500 block of Barringer Street, with four counts of felony forgery and uttering; four counts of felony uttering a forged instrument; four counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses; and four counts of felony embezzlement.

According to arrest warrants, Lyerly forged two checks for $100 at Community One Bank in Salisbury on Dec. 14 and another for $250, knowing he did not have permission to use the check for personal use. He used business checks issued to him by Copart, located at 1081 Recovery Road, China Grove, for business expenses accrued while hauling salvage cars.

The warrant said Lyerly was an employee of R&L Transport and was subcontracted to Copart. He is accused of forging a $250 check on Dec. 31. A warrant said he also wrote checks to himself on Dec. 14, Dec. 16 and Dec. 18, each in the amount of $100.

He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond.

In other Rowan County sheriff’s reports:

• A woman reported Monday she was the victim of a vehicle theft in the 600 block of Panther Point Road, Richfield.

• Brandon Shae Shelton, 43, was charged Monday with misdemeanor assault on a female in the 2300 block of McGee Street, Kannapolis.

• Brian Keith White, 46, was charged Monday with felony common law robbery while at the Rowan County Courthouse.

• Matthew Walter Roberston, 31, and David Earl Fox, 51, were charged Monday on federal probation violations/federal indictments in the 3000 block of Artz Road.

• Morgan Nichole Pepper, 31, was charged Monday in the 3000 block of Artz Road with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture a Schedule III substance.

• Emily Grace Vuncannon, 22, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 300 block of Stone Road.

• Zachery Craig Cline, 37, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 100 block of Johnson Dairy Road, Rockwell.

• Jeffrey Wayne Long, 35, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 100 block of Faggart Circle, Rockwell.

• Thomas David Martinez, 29, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 100 block of East Kerr Street.

• Jeremy Dean Yancey, 25, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 200 block of North Main Street.

• James Edward Asher Russell, 19, was charged Monday with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in the 100 block of Walton Road.

• Scott Fraley, 47, was charged Monday with a federal probation violation/federal indictment in the 500 block of Barringer Street.

In Salisbury police reports:

• A man reported a fight Tuesday at Taco Bell, 602 E. Innes St., and drugs were found on one suspect.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.