(COLDWATER) – A suspect has been arraigned in connection with a car theft incident in 2022.

Branch County online court documents say that 62 year old Brian Martin of Harrison was arraigned Saturday in Branch County District Court for stealing a car and passing a bad check for $14,500. He is facing a charge of uttering and publishing as well as a count of false pretenses between $1,000 and $20,000, following an investigation by the Michigan State Police.

Court documents say that Martin and his girlfriend Angela Plovie bought a 1975 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from a Kinderhook Township resident for $14,500. However, the seller was not able to cash the check because the bank and the account did not exist and the check was not valid.

Plovie told the Michigan State Police that the same thing happened to her and another vehicle with a bad check written for $9,000 in Niles.

Martin entered pleas of not guilty. A $250,000 bond was issued.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 6 and a preliminary examination for March 12.