Brown County District Court

• Matthew Christopher Kurtenbach, 43, homeless, was charged Tuesday with three felony check forgery charges. A remote Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m. March 26.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Patrolman Trevor Kruse met with a Menard’s staff member (witness) regarding a forged check Sept. 5. The witness said a man bought 20 items totaling $183.98 and paid with a check and provided driver’s license renewal paperwork July 8.

A Wells Fargo Bank check with the name Global Logistical Solutions was returned due to the account not being able to located. The witness provided photos of the suspect including more photos from a similar incident at the Dundas Menard’s.

New Ulm Police Investigator Tara Martin reviewed the casefile and learned New Ulm Police Senior Investigator Chris Moehllenhoff had a similar case with Kurtenbach in 2022 involving a non-sufficient funds check investigation. Investigator Martin reviewed the suspect’s photo from Senior Investigator Moellenhoff’s investigation and recognized him as Kurtenbach.

Senior Investigator Moellenhoff received a response from Wells Fargo Sept. 20 reporting no account existed for the account number, name or address on Kurtenbach’s check. It seemed Kurtenbach manufactured the check using fictitious information.

Officer Kruse received a request from the New Ulm Menard’s manager Jan. 26 requesting a follow up on a bad check issued to them Dec. 9. The check was returned because the account could not be located. Surveillance photos for the Dec. 9 incident were reviewed and officer Kruse identified the suspect as Kurtenbach. His criminal history showed a May 13, 2021 check forgery conviction.

• Leslie Ann Flores, 23, Mankato, was charged Monday with gross misdemeanor aiding and abetting theft by swindle. A remote Zoom hearing was set for 8:30 a.m. March 19.

According to court documents, a New Ulm Police officer was dispatched to Walmart, 1720 Westridge Rd., New Ulm Jan. 28 for a delayed theft report.

A Walmart loss prevention associate (witness) told police a former Walmart employee, Flores, scanned lower priced items or “line voided” items for family members and friends at least four times in the past two months. All four incidents happened at the auto department register, were recorded on store surveillance footage and were reviewed by police and the witness.

Store surveillance captured Flores working behind an auto dept. cash register Dec. 14 when two customers approached the register with several items. Flores scanned the items valued at $18.94, then line voided the $18.94, bringing the total transaction cost paid by the customers to $13.64.

Flores was seen giving the line voided items to the customers as though the item was paid for, walking Eugenio Flores to the front of the store and returning to the auto dept. One of the customers waited as the other drives a vehicle to the auto dept. and picked her up.

A similar incident on store surveillance footage involving Flores happened Jan. 2. The loss prevention associate determined that a total of $7.59 was paid for items actually valued at $121.10. A similar type of incident on Jan. 9 captured on store surveillance footage involved a total bill paid of $.60 for items actually valued at $414.