HUTCHINSON— A Kansas man made a first appearance before a judge Wednesday on five counts of making false writing and theft.

Romero Lucio Jr., 26, Hutchinson, was arrested on the charges stemming from reports of phony $50 bills being passed at a number of local businesses in May.

Officials at Walmart were able to provide police with a picture of the suspect and also a tag number of the vehicle he was in.

That led to Lucio’s residence where police allegedly found the printer used as well as some printed phony money on a sheet of paper that hadn’t been cut yet.

Lucio is jailed on a $9,000 bond and is due back in court next week.