Check-Forging Caregiver Due Back in Court

A local woman accused of forging at least five checks belonging to the North Hampton woman for whom she was caring will be arraigned in Rockingham Superior Court next week on six forgery-related felonies.

Valerie Trunfio, 36, of Hampton, will be arraigned at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, on four counts of forgery in one criminal case against her, as well as arraigned on one count of forgery and one count of receiving stolen property in a separate case, according to court staff.

Trunfio was originally arrested on Aug. 31 after turning herself in at the Hampton Police Department. There are two sets of charges against her because both Hampton and North Hampton police have been working together on a "long" joint investigation of Trunfio, who allegedly stole checks from "a former employer" and cashed them in both North Hampton and Hampton, police have said.

The receiving stolen property charge stems from the fact that a $600 portable oxygen monitor reportedly taken from Exeter Hospital was found at Trunfio's client's home during the forgery investigation.

Trunfio was arraigned in Hampton District Court following her Aug. 31 arrest, although the case has since been bound over to superior court, hence the second arraignment.