An Albert Lea woman accused of writing multiple fraudulent checks in the last six months pleaded not guilty Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Melissa Lynn Hernandez, 41, is charged with offering a forged check and issuing a dishonored check in one file. In a second file, Hernandez is charged with issuing a dishonored check.

Court documents state Hernandez was charged in the first file after an Albert Lea detective responded to a report of suspected check forgery Aug.1.

Surveillance video reportedly showed Hernandez offer checks in the amount of $476.69, two checks for $140.80 each, and checks for $120, $59.20, $43.46 and $30 that were either fraudulent or taken from accounts with insufficient funds.

Court documents state Heather Brigston was arrested in connection for offering forged and dishonored checks at the same business.

A search of Brigston’s van reportedly netted a starting kit of check blanks bearing Hernandez’s name and the checking account information where the insufficient funds were drawn from and similar fraudulent payroll checks, which were similar to what Hernandez had cashed the day before.

Hernandez was charged in the second file after the Albert Lea Police Department responded to a business Sept. 13 on a report of fraudulent checks. A detective reportedly reviewed surveillance footage of Hernandez, Brigston and Wendy Woodson making purchases at the store Sept. 5, 6 and 7.

Court documents state that Hernandez offered personal checks for $297.47, $233.65 and $33.78 from an account with insufficient funds.

Brigston and Woodson reportedly also made purchases that were returned for insufficient funds. Court documents state Woodson accompanied Hernandez on more than one instance.

Settlement conferences and jury trials on the two files for Hernandez are scheduled for Jan. 25 and May 9, if the cases are not settled by then.

Brigston pleaded guilty in October to possessing with the intent to offer a forged check. Her sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15.

Woodson is charged with issuing a dishonored check. A settlement conference is scheduled for Jan. 5. A jury trial is scheduled for April, if the case has not been settled by then.