Fraud Laws under California
Forgery / Fraud (Penal Code §470)
The law allows countless examples of forgery to occur when someones tries to pass off a document or instrument that transfers a right, money, or property unlawfully. Bottom-line however is the requirement that the person charged with this crime must have committed it with the intent to defraud someone (this is a specific intent).
Bad Check Diversion
It pays to know that in certain counties, there is a “Bad Check Diversion Program” that allows a person a chance to clear their name by taking on strenuous intervention classes and a payment that will make the victim whole–and possibly receive a dismissal of the charges.
This is a special arrangement and must be negotiated on your behalf by someone experienced in this matters. To see if you qualify for this kind of program you highly advised to speak with a professional criminal defense attorney.