Detectives from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department are investigating a case of alleged counterfeiting.
According to Det. Jon Tyler, the investigation started Jan. 29 when employees from an undisclosed Farmers State Bank location reported receiving three counterfeit $50 bills in a transaction. Two of the bills had the same serial number.
A few hours later, detectives spoke with North Webster Town Marshal Greg Church, who said a North Webster bank also received a counterfeit $50 bill, and he was in the process of investigating.
Then on Feb. 3, a second-grade student at North Webster Elementary School reportedly had a large amount of cash at school and was passing out bills to other students. A teacher reportedly saw the activity and contacted school administrators.
When asked about the money, the student allegedly said the money was in a kitchen cabinet and in a bag in a closet at his home.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence, and police went to the home and searched for evidence, but no more counterfeit cash was found in the home. The child's mother reportedly told police that she knew about the counterfeit money and said that a man named Charles Lynn Renschler Jr., reportedly left it there.
The same day, officers went to Renschler's home and searched, but found no evidence of the counterfeit bills.
However, the counterfeit bills all could be traced to Renschler in some fashion, and police asked him for an interview.
Renschler allegedly admitted to police that he made the bills on a home scanner/copy machine, and provided information about the denominations he had produced. He also told police the approximate amount of money he had made.
"We are confident we have all of the (counterfeit) bills back," Tyler said.
Renschler reportedly told police that he made the money in hopes of getting someone else in trouble because the counterfeit money was in their possession.
Information regarding the case was forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office Tuesday, and a warrant has been requested for Renschler's arrest.
Tyler also has called the Secret Service to report the incident, and Renschler could possibly face federal charges.
