Penn State student Natasha Marcos was arraigned yesterday on charges that she stole, forged and cashed two checks from her mother.

Marcos, who was released on $5,000 unsecured bail, is charged with two counts of forgery, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, according to court documents.

On Sept. 11 and Sept. 22, 2003, Marcos allegedly cashed the checks she had written to herself at Omega Bank, 1811 S. Atherton St., for a total of $280.

Marcos told police that her mother, Kathleen Cole, had written the checks to her.

She denied taking the checks and forging her mother's signature.

Her mother told police she was unaware the checks were missing and cashed by Marcos, but said Marcos has done this in the past, according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28 at Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.