A woman believed to have written 57 forged checks in the Miss-Lou area was behind bars Wednesday at the Adams County Jail.

Chenna J. Wheeler, 29, of 14 White Apple Road, was charged with four counts of uttering a forgery and was being held without bond pending further charges.

The four counts in question involved four checks written to Piggly Wiggly in Natchez, said Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell.

The checks totaled $381.43 and more charges are pending because of the large number of checks involved.

&uot;We want to allow the opportunity (for other merchants) out there to be able to file their own charges if they want to,&uot; Ferrell said.

Deputies believe Wheeler stole several checkbooks from T.L. McReynolds in June while living at his residencee.

She then is believed to have writen forged checks at local businesses.

The checks were drawn on McReynolds’ personal account at Bancorp South Bank in Vicksburg, Ferrell said.

Normally, deputies would not release McReynolds name but did so this time to alert local merchants.

&uot;There are so many checks out there,&uot; Ferrell said. &uot;Rarely do you see 57.&uot;

A typical case would include about three checks and usually someone becomes aware of the forgeries and reports them before so many checks are written, he said.

Charges are also pending against Wheeler for prescription forgery in efforts to acquire a painkiller, Ferrell said.