Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Faribault man is now facing a felony check forgery charge in Beltrami County after a reported incident at Menards in Bemidji.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota District Court, Matthew Christopher Dale Kurtenbach, 44, was charged with check forgery. The charge alleges he offered or possessed a forged check with the intent to defraud.
What The Complaint Says
The complaint says the case centers on an August 24, 2025, purchase at the Menards store in Bemidji.
Investigators say a man used a check for $177.83 to pay for items. The check was later reported as fraudulent.
Court records say the check listed Leonard Commercial Services and an address at 1200 East Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes.
The complaint says investigators checked that address and found it was a Best Western hotel. They did not find a business by that name there.
The routing number on the check was reportedly tied to Bell Bank.
Authorities say a suspect photo helped identify Kurtenbach. The complaint also says he had an active felony warrant at that time.
Prior Conviction Cited In Filing
The complaint notes that Kurtenbach was convicted of gross misdemeanor check forgery on August 27, 2024.
That prior conviction is important in this case. Prosecutors allege it happened within the required time period under Minnesota law.
The new charge is listed as a felony. The maximum penalty shown in the complaint is five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
You can review Minnesota court information through the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Minnesota law on check forgery can also be found in the state statute.
Case Status
At this stage, the charge is an allegation. It has not been proven in court.
Kurtenbach is accused of using a forged check to buy goods in Bemidji. The complaint says the check amount was less than $250.
Still, the filing says the case qualifies as a felony because of a prior forgery conviction.
The case was filed in Beltrami County District Court under court file 04-CR-25-2954.
As with all criminal cases, Kurtenbach is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
