Man who posed as fire victim arrested again in LV

Jen Lawson

Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

A Henderson man accused of posing as a victim of California's October wildfires and passing counterfeit checks at San Diego hotels is charged in Las Vegas with cashing nearly $2,000 in counterfeit checks last week, Metro Police said.

Randy Lee Blair, 36, was being held this morning in Clark County Detention Center on seven counts each of forgery and passing forged checks and four counts each of burglary and theft.

Metro Police arrested Blair Tuesday after he tried to cash a forged check for nearly $345 at a check-cashing business. After his arrest, police discovered he was a fugitive from San Diego in connection with cashing forged checks in that city.

Two days later the manager of a Las Vegas bar called police and reported that the bank had just notified her that checks Blair cashed there in November, totaling more than $1,500, were fake, according to the police report.

Blair and Jennifer Heydelaar, 26, made headlines in October when authorities said they posed as victims of the San Diego wildfires at hotels there to get discounts.

The couple racked up nearly $2,000 in room charges, movies, breakfasts and room service, paid for using counterfeit checks, police said.

Heydelaar remains in custody in San Diego, but Blair was released shortly after his arrest and ordered to return for a court hearing. A fugitive warrant was issued when he failed to show, according to records.

Court records allege he cashed eight fake checks totaling $1,564.66 at the Hang 'N' Loose bar at 208 E. Sahara Ave. between Nov. 21 and 23.

His actions went undiscovered until the manager received word from the bank last week that the checks were counterfeit.

The arrest report also alleges Blair frequented the Pay Day Loan Store on 4921 W. Sahara Ave. and cashed fake checks.

Officers were called Tuesday to the store by an employee who said a man who was known to have cashed fake checks in the past was attempting to do so again.

An employee who recognized Blair made a copy of the $344.90 check he was trying to cash and notified Metro, according to the arrest report.

Police arrived at the business and when they asked Blair to put his hands behind his back, he said, "OK, OK, you got me."

Blair was scheduled to appear this morning in Justice Court.