Three Opp residents are charged with forging at least 20 checks belonging to a Samson business, while its owner lay in a Birmingham hospital.

Covington County Sheriff’s Office investigator Greg Jackson said his department was notified on Nov. 24 of the allegations into the forgeries, and with the assistance of Investigator Kevin Chance of the Opp Police Department was able to initially identify two of the three subjects — Mary Diane Schofield, 23, and Anthony Scott Cain, 19.

“The checks were on a Samson business called P&B Recycling,” Jackson said. “I can’t say specifically exactly how much those checks add up to, but it is a lot.

Jackson said it is believed the third suspect, 27-year-old Amanda Denise Hudson, stole the checks while employed as P&B Recycling’s payroll and accounting clerk.

“We know (alleged theft of the checks) occurred sometime between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25 because that is the time one of the owners was in the hospital in Birmingham undergoing some medical treatment,” Jackson said.

The trio allegedly passed the forged checks at numerous local businesses, Jackson said.

As a result, Schofield now faces three counts of possession of a forged instrument; Cain, 13 counts of possession of a forged instrument in the second degree and Hudson, four counts of possession of a forged instrument.

Each is being held in the Covington County Jail — Schofield on a $30,000 bond; Cain on a $130,000 bond and Hudson on a $140,000 bond. Hudson had been out on bond on similar charges.

Jackson said other charges against the three are pending by other law enforcement agencies.