Authorities have charged a Wright City woman for allegedly cashing a check with someone else’s signature each year for the last three years. The victim of the forgery alleged this might have been going on since 1997.

In March, the victim reported to Wright City police that Joy M. Morrison, 59, had been cashing annual reimbursement checks from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative that were written in both their names. The victim told police he and Morrison had been separated since 1997, that he was not aware the checks were being issued, and that Morrison had been signing his name on them, according to a Wright City police report.

The victim provided police with images of checks from the last three years signed with his and Morrison’s names, leading Warren County prosecutors to charge Morrison May 11 with three counts of forgery.

According to Wright City police, additional documents from Cuivre River showed the victim’s name as the primary account holder at Morrison’s home on Viola Drive. The victim said he has never lived at that address.

Police contacted Morrison, who reportedly said that she signed her name on the reimbursement checks, but didn’t know who might have signed the victim’s name.

However, a family member of the victim provided police with a text message from Morrison, which allegedly stated the victim “can’t do anything about me signing his name on those checks. And if I get another check I’ll do it again. So run and tell him that.”

A criminal summons was issued for Morrison to appear in Warren County Circuit Court on July 29.