Additional Charges filed against Alona Marie Berecz amid La Grande identity theft case

By on Thursday, September 24th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories

LA GRANDE – On Saturday, February 14, 2026, 31-year-old Alona Marie Berecz was arrested by the La Grande Police Department (LGPD) on numerous Forgery, Identity Theft, and Theft charges following the conclusion of separate investigations by both the LGPD and Union County Sheriff’s Office. In the intervening months, additional charges have been added by authorities and now three separate cases are currently pending against Berecz, according to the Oregon Judicial Information System.

For those unfamiliar, Berecz is a former employee of Copies Plus CP Espresso in La Grande. She was arrested on the original charges for allegedly committing various fraudulent activities, including copying and stealing the IDs of several fellow employees and unauthorized use of store resources.

As mentioned, additional charges have since been filed against Berecz. On Thursday, September 10, while already lodged in the Union County Jail, she was arrested again on further Identity Theft and Forgery related charges. As written in a November 11 Press Log from the LGPD:

“ALONA MARIE BERECZ, DOB: 09/29/1994, WAS ARRESTED BY LGPD

WHILE LODGED IN THE UCCF ON A UNION COUNTY SECRET

INDICTMENT WARRANT WITH CHARGES OF CRIMINAL POSSESSION

OF A FORGERY DEVICE, AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT, FORGERY I

X2 AND IDENTITY THEFT X21. REFER LG26-0321”

As of the time of writing, three cases are currently listed by the state of Oregon against Berecz involving various fraud-related charges. The Original case, 26CR08877, was filed on February 13, 2026, and currently lists the following charges:

  • Computer Crime x2
  • Identity Theft x2
  • Forgery in the Second Degree x2
  • Possession of Forged Instrument in the Second Degree x2
  • Attempt to Commit a Class A Misdemeanor x2 

All charges were dated February 2nd, 2026, with Berecz pleading not guilty. Case information lists Berecz as having been released on $1,000 dollar bail on September 15. A status check hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026, a pre-trial conference on October 12, 2026, and the trial itself on October 22, 2026.

The second case, 26CR48969, was filed recently on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and currently lists the following charges: 

  • Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree
  • Identity Theft x2
  • Forger in the Second Degree
  • Possession of Forged Instrument in the Second Degree
  • Attempt to Commit a Class A Misdemeanor

All charges were dated September 4, 2026. A $500 dollar bail was posted on Tuesday, September 15, with a plea hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 29.

The third and final case, as of time of writing, 26CR49511, was filed on Wednesday, September 8, 2026, and currently lists the following charges:

  • Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device
  • Aggravated Identity Theft
  • Forgery in the First Degree x2
  • Identity Theft x21

Charge dates for this case varied considerably, with the earliest being from November 5, 2025, and the latest dated February 5, 2026. Again, a $500 dollar bail was posted on Tuesday, September 15, with a plea hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 29. Judge Thomas B. Powers is listed as overseeing all three cases.

Our original article on the arrest can be found here: https://elkhornmediagroup.com/la-grande-woman-arrested-on-identity-theft-and-forgery-charges-at-local-copy-business/

An official statement from Copies Plus CP Espresso on the arrest can be found here: https://elkhornmediagroup.com/copies-plus-cp-espresso-issues-formal-statement-on-fraud-arrest-of-former-employee/

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(Photo from the Oregon Department of Justice) 

Elkhorn Media Group