Former Laguna Beach woman pleads guilty to check and identity theft

A former Laguna Beach woman has pleaded guilty to trying to cash a stolen check using a stolen identification card.

Laguna Beach police responded to the Bank of America at 299 Ocean Ave. shortly after the transaction in June but couldn’t find a suspect.

On Nov. 13, Alexandra Nichole Hovas, 26, was arrested after someone recognized her in bank security footage posted on the Police Department’s Facebook page.

She pleaded guilty Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court to felony charges of making fictitious instruments and unauthorized use of personal identifying information, according to court records.

Hovas, who now lives in San Juan Capistrano, has a history of financial and drug-related crimes, according to court records.

She also pleaded guilty Tuesday to cashing a check on an account with insufficient funds in May and guilty to petty theft in connection with an arrest in early November.

Hovas was sentenced to 32 days in Orange County Jail but was released Tuesday with credit for time already served. She also received three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution for insufficient-balance checks.

She pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges related to an arrest in June, including possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substances and driving without a valid license.

DANIEL LANGHORNE is a contributor to Times Community News.