Repeat offender back behind bars | Crime

A man familiar to law enforcement agencies in two other counties is now behind bars in Jackson County.

Daniel Malin, 39, is charged with two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree and Theft of Property, both felonies.

According to court records, Malin is accused of stealing and cashing a check from a former employer.

In his affidavit, Detective Patrick Weatherford of the Newport Police Department stated that on January 6 a Strawberry woman turned in two checkbooks to the Independence County Sheriff’s Office.  She reportedly told investigators she found the checks after Malin had used the bathroom at her home.

Detectives contacted the person listed as the account holder on the checks.  He reportedly told police someone had broken into his vehicle and stolen the checkbooks.  He also said that Malin had worked for him in the past as a farm hand.

During his investigation, Weatherford reportedly learned that Malin had attempted to cash two of the checks at Walmart on January 5.  The first attempt at 8:07 p.m. was declined.  Malin reportedly returned to the store an hour later and cashed a check for $140.  The store’s surveillance cameras recorded the transaction and the video was used to positively identify Malin.

On January 11, Newport police arrested Malin.  He is currently being held in the Jackson County Detention Center.

According to the affidavit, Malin faces “enhanced penalties as a habitual offender.”  He has been convicted of the following felonies:

1. CONVICTED IN LAWRENCE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSE OF FORGERY IN THE SECOND DEGREE (DOCKET NUMBER 1994-43) ON JULY 22, 1996

2. CONVICTED IN LAWRENCE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSES OF THEFT OF PROPERTY, FALSE IMPRISONMENT IN THE FIRST DEGREE, AND FLEEING (DOCKET NUMBER 2003-112) ON OCTOBER 7, 2003

3. CONVICTED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSES OF BREAKING OR ENTERING AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF IN THE FIRST DEGREE (DOCKET NUMBER 2006-26) ON APRIL 6, 2006

4. CONVICTED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSE OF BREAKING OR ENTERING (DOCKET NUMBER 2006-50) ON JUNE 27, 2006

5. CONVICTED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSE OF BREAKING OR ENTERING (DOCKET NUMBER 2006-50) ON JUNE 27, 2006

6. CONVICTED IN RANDOLPH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FELONY OFFENSE OF BREAKING OR ENTERING (DOCKET NUMBER 2007-58) ON APRIL 2, 2007