A 26-year-old Lake Charles man has been charged with 13 counts of forgery and theft over $1,500, authorities said.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kim Myers said Kelvin L. Brown, 4451 5th Avenue Apt. No. 28, was arrested Tuesday and is accused of stealing over $4,000.

“A victim reported that several personal checks were stolen from his home,” Myers said Thursday in a news release. “Between Dec. 21 and Jan. 24, over $4,000 worth of his checks had been written and cashed at a local bank.

“During further investigation, detectives discovered Brown had been hired to provide sitting services through a local company for the victim’s son. Brown stole the checks and forged the victim’s signature to cash them at a local bank.”

Myers said Brown confirmed he forged the signature and cashed the stolen checks when he was questioned by deputies.

Brown was released after posting the $10,000 bond set by Judge Wilford Carter.

Detective John Melton was the lead investigator in this case.

Patricia Ann Guidry

Kelvin L. Brown