Hawley Woman Charged in $268 Check Case

HAWLEY, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Hawley woman faces two charges involving a college refund check.

Kellee Elizabeth Baker is charged with check forgery and theft in Clay County District Court.

The case is listed under court file number 14-CR-26-1954.

The charges are allegations. Baker is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

College Requested Repayment

The case began after a college contacted the alleged victim on March 2, 2026.

According to the complaint, the school requested repayment of $268.47.

The alleged victim then learned the college had mailed a refund check during fall 2025.

The check went to a former Hawley address. It was payable only to the alleged victim.

The complaint says the check was deposited through mobile banking on September 17, 2025.

The alleged victim said they did not know the check had been mailed.

Investigators compared the endorsement with a signature sample from the alleged victim.

The complaint says the signatures did not match.

Investigators also reviewed Baker’s signature on her Minnesota driver’s license.

The complaint says Baker’s signature appeared similar to the check endorsement.

Investigators obtained bank records through a search warrant, according to the complaint.

Those records showed a $268.47 mobile deposit into a shared account.

The account was held by Baker and the alleged victim.

The alleged victim reportedly stopped using the account after reaching adulthood.

The college contacted the alleged victim again on March 24, 2026.

School officials said they received a check from Baker on March 18.

Baker allegedly asked the school to apply that payment toward the alleged victim’s student balance.

The alleged victim said they did not know why Baker sent the payment.

They also reported having no contact with Baker for several months.

The complaint lists one count of falsely endorsing a check. It also lists one theft count.

Readers can review Minnesota’s check forgery law.

Minnesota’s theft law is also available online.

Public case information may appear through Minnesota Court Records Online.

I’m Adrian Cole, reporting for TRF News.