Employee accused of check fraud

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Authorities accuse a city worker of using his dead brother's name to cash two checks earlier this year.

Robert Coclough Witherall, 54, of 113 Summit Ave., remains free on a $3,000 bond pending a Jan. 25 preliminary hearing in Winchester General District Court.

Police charged Witherall in September with two counts each of identity theft, obtaining money by false pretenses and check forgery. Authorities say Witherall cashed checks made out to his brother, who died two months earlier.

Judge Amy Tisinger entered an order Nov. 30 granting Witherall permission to travel to Pembroke, N.C., to attend his niece's graduation from the University of North Carolina. Witherall would stay at a hotel Friday through Sunday, according to the order. The commonwealth did not object to the defense's request.

Winchester attorney N. Randolph "Randy" Bryant represents Witherall.

Northside Mart manager Ashu Narang advised Winchester police officer N.E. Post on Sept. 8 that two checks cashed March 19 and April 1 "were found to be fraudulent," according to a criminal complaint filed in the court. The manager told the officer a black male cashed each check using a Virginia ID and a city of Winchester ID, the complaint states. Each ID had the name Dallas Witherall, according to the complaint.

"The U.S. Treasury checks were made out to Dallas Witherall," the complaint states.

"Officer Post confirmed Dallas Witherall died on 2-5-2011. Officer Post made contact with Robert Witherall, brother to Dallas.

"Robert advised he cashed the checks using ID with his brother's name on them at Northside Mart. The total amount of money obtained was $1,970. Robert advised he used his ID and taped his brother Dallas name over his name."

Court documents filed at the time of his arrest state Witherall is employed by the city of Winchester and he has lived in the community for 20 years.