Think you owe restitution money or have outstanding bad checks?

The Covington County District Attorney’s Office, with the help of many other local law enforcement agencies, may have a warrant with your name on it, and they are actively rounding up individuals who have outstanding fines.

“Some of these warrants are 10 to 15 years old,” District Attorney Walt Merrell said. “And it is time that these people are paid the money that they are owed.”

Merrell said that the DA’s office is working with various law enforcement agencies to track down those with warrants so that they can start paying back the money they owe.

“We don’t want to put people in jail. That is not our goal here,” Merrell said. “We want to give these people a chance to come in and try to make things right. It doesn’t benefit anyone to place them in jail, but if we have to come look for them then they will be put them in jail.”

Merrell said that restitution is usually around $100 a month or less depending on the amount owed.

Merrell encourages those who are aware of their warrants to come and address the matter.

“We would prefer to recall these warrants,” Merrell said. “If people come up here in good faith, and pay what they can, we will keep them out of jail.”

Merrell said that amounts owed ranged from less than $100 to more than $100,000.

The DA’s office will continue to put intense pressure on looking for those with warrants for the next few months, Merrell said.

“When we contact these people, usually about half of them will come up here and take care of it,” District Attorney Investigator Brett Holmes said.

The roundup has been successful so far, he said.

Those looking to take care of their warrants may by money order or credit card to Circuit Clerk’s office.

To negotiate the price that must be paid, Merrell said that has to be done through the DA’s office. If anyone has questions or thinks they may owe Merrell encourages individuals to call the DA’s office at 222-2513 or contact them on their Facebook page at Covington County District Attorney Office.

Merrell would also like to express his gratitude to the outside agencies that have helped in the effort.