A Zwingle man has been accused of writing multiple bad checks for thousands of dollars apiece.

Robert Barton, 44, was charged on Dec. 4 with first-degree theft, second-degree theft, and money laundering.

A warrant has been out for Barton’s arrest since Jul. 22.

According to the arrest affidavit, Barton is the owner of New Concepts Concrete in Zwingle. This business is not registered through the State of Iowa, the affidavit said.

On May 10, Barton wrote a bad check for $17,540.75 to Junge Ford in North Liberty for a vehicle. The account that Barton wrote the check for had been closed by Fidelity Bank in Oct. 2017 for being overdrawn, the affidavit said.

The same day, Barton wrote another bad check for $1,725.52 to City Tractor in North Liberty for two concrete saws. Barton then pawned the saws for cash in Davenport, according to the affidavit.

On May 15, Barton wrote another bad check for $3,825.54 to Logan Contractors Supply in North Liberty for tools, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Barton has written a total of 48 bad checks throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin since Oct. 2017.

First-degree theft and second-degree theft are Class-C and Class-D felonies, respectively.