Woman arrested with counterfeit checks

A Reno woman was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of making counterfeit checks.

Janine Nish, 47, was booked into the Carson City jail on suspicion of two counts of felony possession of stolen property, possession of a forged instruments and identity theft.

According to the arrest report, Nish was located at a home on Center Drive during a search for drugs.

Detective Bob Motamenpour said Nish was in possession of numerous pieces of stolen identification as well as materials needed to make false IDs.

During questioning, Nish allegedly admitted she possessed the IDs, but told the investigators she'd found them in trash cans in Las Vegas and Carson City.

Motamenpour said he also recovered an empty computer ink cartridge, and a computer program for printing checks on check stock.

He said a number of checks written out to an Ellen Ruttan were also found in Nish's possession.

One of the ID cards belonged to a Carson City woman whose vehicle was burglarized recently. Motamenpour said he also located Ellen Ruttan in Henderson whose purse had been stolen recently.

He said it is unclear if she cashed any of the checks in Carson City. Anyone who may be a victim or knows information on this case if asked to call the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 ext. 1400.

Nish, formerly of Carson City, was sentenced in January 2002 to 12-48 months in prison after a Lyon County jury found her guilty of aiding in the escape of a female prisoner from the Silver Springs Conservation Camp in Lyon County in July 2000.

She is being held on $25,000 bail.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.