A Casper man already accused of robbing an Evansville convenience store now faces charges he forged more than $600 worth of checks.

Prosecutors have charged Christopher Meeks, 22, with 17 counts of forgery. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

The checks were written between April 30 and June 8 at several area liquor stores, gas stations and restaurants, according to documents filed last week in Natrona County Circuit Court.

Meeks appeared in court briefly Thursday to waive his preliminary hearing. The forgery case against him will now move on to District Court, where he should be arraigned sometime in the next several weeks.

He is also expected in District Court next month for a change of plea hearing in connection with a June 19 armed robbery at an Evansville Loaf 'N Jug. In that case, he pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robbery and conspiracy and faces up to 50 years behind bars if convicted.

The forgery case stems from an April 26 car burglary when four checkbooks were taken, according to a police affidavit. Over the next two months, the woman who owned the car reported 17 of the checks had been forged at area businesses.

Investigators discovered a surveillance video that showed a man giving a forged check to a clerk at a North Poplar Street gas station on April 30. The man, who went into the store with a second man, claimed the check belonged to his girlfriend.

The woman whose checks were stolen identified one of the men as "Chris" and said he sometimes came into the store where she worked, the affidavit states.

After the armed robbery, investigators began to suspect Meeks was the man identified as "Chris."

In an interview after his arrest, Meeks told police someone else stole the checks, according to the affidavit. He said he only used two of the checks.

Meeks remained held Thursday at the Natrona County Detention Center.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.