Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Keith A. and Lorrine D. Birdwell pleaded not guilty today to what prosecutors call major economic offenses that victimized a Centralia-based bank in connection with the Toledo couple’s used car business.

Keith and Lorrine Birdwell

The Birdwells operated  Birdwell Brothers Auto Sales with sites in Centralia and in Lacey.

They were charged last month with one count of first-degree theft and five counts of felony unlawful issuance of a bank check.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Eric Eisenberg contends in charging documents that Security State Bank’s unrecovered losses are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. He alleges the couple used various deceptions to avoid paying back the bank on loans for the vehicles.

Keith, 47, and Lorrine, 44, went before Judge James Lawler in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon. They were accompanied by Vancouver, Wash.-based attorney Chad Schaff.

They pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial date was set for the week of April 22.
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For background, read “Centralia used car lot owners appear in court on criminal charges” from Wednesday January 23, 2013, here

Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter

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