FARMINGTON – Harley Witherell, 24, of Farmington, facing forgery, theft and other charges, is being held without bail after an initial court appearance Monday.

Farmington police Lt. Jack Peck charged Witherell with burglary of a motor vehicle, forgery, theft by unauthorized taking and violation of condition of release, according to a police affidavit.

Franklin County Detective David St. Laurent charged Witherell with theft by unauthorized taking and receiving stolen property.

An incident came to light after Witherell was accused last Thursday of taking checks from a checkbook in a person’s truck and writing them out to himself. An acquaintance in Industry told police that Witherell took a .308-caliber Winchester rifle from his gun closet last fall. The firearm owner said Witherell admitted to taking the gun but never brought it back. The incident was not reported until last week.

Recently, a man said Witherell entered his truck with a key, took seven blank starter checks and forged his wife’s name on the checks. Witherell made the checks out to himself and cashed them in Farmington, Peck said. The checks amounted to less than $1,000, he said.

In a phone call from the man to Witherell, he admitted to all the above, according to the affidavit.

Judge Valerie Stanfill ordered Witherell to appear, possibly Friday, with his attorney, Margot Joly, before a court date would be set.

Witherell is being held without bail due to the violation of a pre-conviction bail condition that he not commit any crime.

Witherell was arrested in October after a drug raid at 654 New Vineyard Road. He pleaded not guilty in January to one charge of aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture of property.