Staff writer
A Peabody man suspected of being the maker of bogus $5 and $10 bills found circulating in the county is in Marion County Jail.
Richard Todd Litton, 30, Peabody, was arrested Friday on suspicion of burglary, counterfeiting, theft by deception, and nine counts of theft.
Sheriff Rob Craft said Litton put up no resistance to his arrest, but Craft doesn’t know where Litton was when deputies arrested him.
The bogus bills were passed to J and M Liquor and Peabody Market in March.
“Counterfeiting is a federal offense and charges are filed by the U.S. Secret Service,” Peabody police chief Bruce Burke said. “After the counterfeit bills were passed in Peabody, the only option for us was to file a case for fraud — or making false information — with the Marion County Attorney. That will be added to the federal charge.”
Burke said two additional Peabody Municipal Court complaints would be added to the charges against Litton — one for a driving violation and one for failure to appear.
Craft said Litton’s municipal court appearances were Tuesday.
Jim Cross, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Wichita, said he can’t confirm or deny whether the matter is under federal investigation, but no federal charges have been filed so far.
Litton has a string of prior arrests in both Marion and Harvey counties.
In Marion County, Litton was charged in 2006 with possession of drugs and fleeing or attempting to elude police; in 2008 with criminal threat and harassment by telephone; in 2007 with failure to stop and remain at the scene of a property damage accident; and in 2013 with interference with a law enforcement officer and driving while suspended.
“He’s been here on more than one occasion,” Craft said. “He was here in March and I think not too long before that.”
The most recent warrant was issued a day or two before his arrest.
In Harvey County, Litton was arrested March 28 on a warrant for failure to appear. The original charges in that case were criminal deprivation of property, obstruction, driving while suspended and driving under the influence, Harvey County sheriff’s office said. He has also been charged in Harvey County with probation violation for not reporting an arrest on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.