A local woman was arrested on a felony charge late Saturday after allegedly trying to pay for gas with a fake $10 bill at an area gas station.
Christy Lee Utton, 36, who lists a Woodlore Court address, was taken into custody shortly after 11 p.m. and charged with first-degree forgery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. She also had a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear.
Utton, held on a $6,000 bond, was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to court records, she was previously arrested on a felony count of first-degree forgery on Jan. 12, 2023, but the charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor count of theft of property under $1,000 and remanded to district court where she pleaded no contest on March 11 and was sentenced to one year in jail, all suspended. She was also previously convicted on Nov. 23, 2022, of misdemeanor theft by receiving and sentenced to one year of probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 8 p.m., Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Bryan Rosburg responded to Phillips 66 gas station at 3201 Central Ave. regarding a forgery.
The gas station owner stated that a few minutes earlier a white woman, later identified as Utton, had attempted to pass a counterfeit $10 bill as legal tender. He said Utton came to the station in a white 2011 Cadillac CTS and parked at the pumps. He said Utton walked inside and gave him a $10 bill to prepay for fuel.
The owner noted he discovered the money was fake with "Motion Picture Use" on the face of it so he called police, but Utton had left the scene before officers arrived.
Rosburg examined the bill and noted the face side to say "Motion Picture Use," "Not Legal Tender" and "Movie Prop Use Only." The backside of the bill stated "Movie Prop Use Only," "Copy" and had what appeared to be Chinese lettering.
Rosburg reviewed security video and reportedly saw Utton walking to the front of the store while a man identified as the registered owner of the vehicle stood by the gas pumps. Rosburg learned the man lived on Pond Street so he went there to speak with him and he stated Utton was staying at the Red Roof Inn, 1125 E. Grand Ave.
Rosburg went to the hotel and made contact with Utton. A computer check showed the FTA warrant, so she was taken into custody on that charge. Once at the jail, Rosburg interviewed Utton and after being read her rights she reportedly said she was given the $10 bill by "an unknown friend" to get gas.
She reportedly admitted to attempting to pass the bill as legal tender at the Phillips 66.