A Watertown woman who served a state prison sentence for shoplifting has been indicted on 10 charges alleging she stole money from a McDonald’s restaurant by submitting forged receipts for refunds.

Michele R. Bowens, 42, faces three counts each of second-degree forgery, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and petit larceny and a single count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

The charges were contained in a grand jury indictment handed up last Thursday in Jefferson County Court.

It is alleged that twice on April 17 she completed a refund at an unidentified McDonald’s by signing fictitious names to receipts to obtain refunds of $28.06 and $28.27 to which she was not entitled. It further is alleged that she did the same thing the following day to unlawfully obtain $31.93.

Ms. Bowens was sentenced in December 2007 in County Court to up to three years in prison for grand larceny for her role in a shoplifting ring in which stolen items were returned to Walmart in exchange for gift cards, which then were used to buy more items. She was discharged from prison in September 2008, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website. She was arraigned on the new charges Friday in County Court and released on her own recognizance after entering not guilty pleas to each of the charges.

Also named in an indictment is Tyler J. Maitland, 18, Richland, who is charged with a single count of third-degree burglary and three counts each of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny. It is alleged that on March 1 he entered a mobile home on Hagen Road in the town of Ellisburg belonging to John McGrew and stole two furnaces and a mobile home axle.

The grand jury also returned two prosecutor’s informations, determining that there was not evidence to support felony charges against two men, but bringing misdemeanor assault charges against them. Nathaniel Gary III, 21, and Christen B. Smith, 17, both of Watertown, are charged with third-degree attempted assault. It is alleged that on Aug. 13, the pair knocked Walter Wilcox, 58, to the ground on High Street and struck him several times on the body as he was on the ground.

In connection with that incident, the grand jury also returned a no-bill, clearing Marquis M. Dawkins, 23, Watertown, of second-degree attempted robbery and third-degree attempted assault, determining there was not enough evidence to support the charges that he participated in the attempted assault on Mr. Wilcox.

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