Robert Lenz (Image courtesy of Tama County Jail)

A Pomeroy livestock dealer with a history of forgery has been charged with felony theft and fraud as a result of allegedly stealing a load of cattle and writing a bad check to Tama Livestock Auction in excess of $10,000 following an investigation by the Tama Police Department.

Robert Thomas Lenz, 56, of Pomeroy made an initial appearance in Tama County district court on February 20, on charges including three counts of first degree theft and one count of fraudulent practice – all Class C felonies.

A Class C felony carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

According to court documents, charges in the case stem from incidents which took place between January 19, 2022, and January 26, 2022.

Lenz – who operates Lenz Livestock – bid a total of $17,041.25 on 18 head of cattle on January 26, 2022, at Tama Livestock Auction in Tama and allegedly loaded the cattle without paying for them. The cattle were then sold to another individual.

At the time of the January 26 sale, Lenz had allegedly previously issued a bad check to Tama Livestock Auction on January 19, 2022, in the amount of $30,313.60 which, according to the criminal complaint, was for 30 head of cattle.

The investigation began on February 2 when Tama Livestock Auction owner Jason Lekin reported the January 19 bad check to Tama Police.

Lekin indicated to police he had contacted Lenz multiple times and been assured the check was good, however, Lenz allegedly then asked Lekin to hold the check until a certain date for deposit. The check was sent for deposit on January 20.

According to trial documents, the check was drawn on the Lenz Livestock account of Robert Lenz at the 1st Community Bank in Newell, Iowa. The check was not paid when presented.

On March 1, Lenz posted a cash bond in the amount of $500 and was released from custody after having his release conditions amended.

Arraignment in the case is set for March 24, at 9:00 a.m.

Lenz is a habitual offender as a result of having two prior felony convictions including a felony drug conviction in Oklahoma in 2003, a felony forgery conviction in Oklahoma in 2008, and a felony forgery conviction in Calhoun County, Iowa in June of last year.

In the Calhoun County case, Lenz forged a series of checks in his ex-girlfriend’s name and attempted to deposit the checks, according to the criminal complaint in the case.

Lenz is being represented in the current Tama County case by attorney Allan M. Richards of Tama.