Pubdate: Fri, 08 Dec 2000
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 2000 The Oregonian
Contact:  1320 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
Fax: 503-294-4193
Website: http://www.oregonlive.com/
Forum: http://forums.oregonlive.com/
Author: Noelle Crombie of The Oregonian staff

TEENS ACCUSED OF COUNTERFEITING

Two Oregon City Students Are Charged With Making $20 Bills With A
Computer; Other Suspects Are Arrested

Two 15-year-old Oregon City High School students have been arrested on
allegations of producing and passing counterfeit $20 bills made with a
computer and a color scanner, Oregon City police said Thursday.

The boys, who were caught when one tried to use a bogus bill to buy
pizza at school last month, police said, are accused of using the
money to buy marijuana from a Canby couple, who also have been arrested.

Two other Oregon City High School students are involved in the case,
according to police. One has been arrested on drug charges. Charges
against the fourth student have been referred to the Clackamas County
district attorney for consideration. Two of the students were arrested
Nov. 17. The other was arrested three days later.

Police said counterfeit bills aren't unusual, especially with the
increased use of home computers.

"We see a lot of these types of incidents," Oregon City police Lt.
Michael Jarvis said, "but I think this was somewhat unique in that
there was a very specific purpose apparently for the use of this
money, which was to purchase illegal drugs."

Three of the Oregon City High School students have been suspended,
according to Oregon City schools Superintendent Barry Rotrock, who
said he is in the process of considering additional discipline for the
students.

The investigation, which involved the U.S. Secret Service, the
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and Oregon City police, is
continuing. Jarvis said police are investigating whether anyone else
was involved in the forgeries.

The boys are accused of using the phony money to buy marijuana from
Tony Lewis, 34, and Michelle Lewis, 32, of Rosencrantz Road in Canby,
Jarvis said. The Lewises were charged on Nov. 30 with possession,
manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, all felonies.

One of the students allegedly produced the bills at his Oregon City
home using a computer and scanner, police said. The student
manufactured $20 bills, according to police, though Jarvis did not
know how many. The student faces 13 counts of first-degree possession
of a forged instrument. Another 29 counts of first-degree possession
of a forged instrument against the student have been referred to the
district attorney's office for consideration, Jarvis said.

The student also has been charged with possession of less than one
ounce of marijuana and possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a
school.

The student who tried to use the money to buy lunch in the school
cafeteria has been charged with two felony counts of first-degree
forgery. Police referred an additional two counts of first-degree
possession of a forged instrument to county prosecutors.

A 16-year-old student at the school has been charged with possession
of less than one ounce of marijuana and possession of marijuana within
1,000 feet of a school. Another two charges, first-degree forgery and
first-degree possession of a forged instrument, have been referred to
prosecutors.

A fourth student, who has not been charged, faces possible drug and
forgery charges, all of which have been referred to the county.
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