Casper Woman Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison on Forgery Charges

A Casper woman who prosecutors say tried to get out of paying over $2,000 in back rent by claiming that she was a victim of identity theft appeared in Natrona County District Court on Monday.

36-year-old Christine Otto is jailed on four felony counts of forgery.

Court documents indicate Otto, who claimed to be three separate people representing three different financial and law organizations, wrote to her landlord that her bank accounts had been frozen due to an ongoing identity theft investigation. According to prosecutors, she also wrote that $850 and $1,400 rent payments were imminent.

Prosecutors also say that, in a handwritten letter to her landlord, Otto said she was awaiting a paycheck for over $500.

If convicted, Otto faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.

Otto's bail was set at $2,500. A preliminary hearing will take place at a later date.