Woman arrested on new forgery charges

Tonya Adams remains in jail after the bond was withdrawn on her previous charges in Pasco.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Tonya Adams was arrested Jan. 22 on charges she stole checks from her former husband.

DADE CITY - Tonya Michelle Adams is back where her many alleged victims want her to be: in jail.

This time, it doesn't look like she's getting out.

Adams was arrested in 2007 on numerous felony charges such as grand theft and identity theft.

Her bond was set at more than $160,000. But she made bail.

Or rather, a benefactor helped her make bail. Adams was released in October, despite the wishes of those from whom she's accused of stealing money and identities.

But now she's back behind bars. Adams was arrested Jan. 22 on an outstanding Jackson County warrant.

The warrant is for four counts of uttering a forged instrument. The alleged victim this time: Adams' ex-husband.

"His estranged wife had stolen a number of checks and forged his signature," said Mariana police Capt. Bill Bryant.

Bryant said the checks were written in 2005, before Adams got in trouble in Pasco County. But the husband didn't discover it until checking a credit report in July 2007. Then he went to the police.

Adams, 30, is being held without bail on the Jackson warrant - and her bondsman has withdrawn the bond on the Pasco cases.

That means if Adams were to get bail set on the Jackson charges and then make that bail, she would still need to come up with a new bond to be freed on the Pasco charges, too.

Or she would need to find a new benefactor to come up with the money or collateral instead.

At a court hearing days before she was arrested again, her old attorney begged off the case. The lawyer said there had been a falling out between Adams and her benefactor - who was not identified - and that the benefactor was no longer paying for Adams' defense.

Adams was given a court-appointed attorney.

According to jail records, Adams is facing 28 charges, including grand theft, forgery and attempting to use the identification of another person without consent.

Authorities say Adams stole mail from boxes in Dade City and Zephyrhills in 2006 and the personal identification numbers she found inside.

Her victims often attend her court appearances, and they came to the Jan. 22 hearing to complain that they're still being victimized because of the personal information taken.

But having her bond withdrawn actually benefits Adams in one way. If she is convicted of the charges and sentenced to prison, she'll get credit for the time she's currently serving in the county jail.

The judge in this case, however, has said he won't accept a plea deal that gives Adams less than 20 years.

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or 727 869-6236.

[Last modified January 29, 2008, 21:39:37]