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NILES — A South Bend man was also sentenced to jail for attempting to cash bogus checks at Niles banks.

Gerard Lydell Montgomery, 57, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted uttering and publishing and was sentenced to 250 days in jail with credit for 80 days served and $456 in fines and costs.

The incidents occurred May 17 and June 27 at banks in Niles when he attempted to cash bogus checks.

Judge Smith described Montgomery’s record as “absolutely horrible”. “You’ve done these offenses your whole adult life,” she said. “Your actions are beyond the garden variety uttering and publishing. Back to back, you went to places to try to cash checks and banged on the door. You could have been charged with assault.”

Montgomery apologized for trying to deceive banking institutions. He said he had met three people in jail who gave him information about employers who are willing to hire ex-convicts.

Dustin Robert Kuminecz, 42, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for 75 days served and $658 in fines and costs.