Libby man pleads not guilty to forgery

A man wanted for forgery in three states pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Samuel Haley Rose, formerly Harry Paul Mottsman, 55, Libby, faces a felony forgery charge in Flathead County in a 2009 case in which he allegedly created accounts with Glacier Bank and Comerica Bank using false information and cashed checks totaling $7,146 before they were found to be counterfeit.

Rose, who corrected his name in court Thursday, claiming he had it legally changed some time ago, has also used the aliases of Sam Alexander Rose, Harold P. Mattsman and Dave Griffin. He allegedly opened his Comerica account as Morgan, Richard & Marks, LLC.

The Western News in Libby reported that Rose is also wanted on forgery charges in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office had been investigating him for a week when he was arrested Dec. 1.

If convicted, Rose faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000 and restitution. He currently is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center with bail set at $20,000.