Antioch woman gets probation for fake check scam

An Antioch woman was placed on probation for one year Friday after she admitted cashing paychecks from a nonexistent company.

Christine Gibson, 35, must also repay $15,000 to the Walmart store in Antioch where she cashed the checks.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Tim Niehus said Gibson, of the 500 block of Main Street, took what appeared to be payroll checks to the store on three occasions last year.

Walmart employees cashed the checks on March 19, March 29 and April 2, Niehus said, and the checks were returned each time.

Gibson was arrested after an investigation by Antioch police.

She was originally charged with felony deceptive practices, but Niehus agreed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor in exchange for her guilty plea.

Niehus said Gibson could have faced up to three years in prison if convicted of the original charge.