COLUMBIA COUNTY, Wis. — Austin Temple, 37, of Middleton, and Mira Bader, 37, of DeForest, were charged on Feb. 11 in Columbia County Circuit Court with multiple felony counts of misappropriating identification to obtain money and misdemeanor receipt or concealment of stolen property.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reported that on Jan. 29, a Town of Lodi resident reported their checkbook stolen and that stolen checks had been used for purchases. Investigators identified Temple and Bader as suspects with access to the residence.
Further investigation revealed stolen checks had also been used in businesses across Dane County and Dodge County. On Feb. 9, both suspects were taken into custody at a motel on the east side of Madison.
Temple, who had prior convictions for identity theft and forgery and an active warrant for probation violation, and Bader were found with evidence of using stolen IDs to misappropriate funds. Law enforcement also discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in their motel room.
Temple is scheduled for a return hearing on March 27, while Bader’s next court appearance is set for May 1.
