MASON CITY — A Mason City man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to forging checks. 

41-year-old Michael Rasmussen was arrested in July in the 1200 block of Plymouth Road. Police say between January and May of this year, Rasmussen forged 24 stolen checks totaling $3225, with many of those being used to illegally purchase lottery tickets and other items. Rasmussen also allegedly wrote $1000 worth of checks from his own personal account that was closed. Authorities say when Rasmussen was arrested, he was allegedly found to have methamphetamine in a chewing tobacco tin.

Rasmussen pleaded guilty in September to charges of ongoing criminal conduct, five counts of forgery, and second-offense possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison. Rasmussen was also ordered to pay just over $5000 in restitution.