STATESVILLE, N.C. — Two men have been charged following an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office investigation into a residential break-in and the cashing of stolen checks.

According to Sheriff Darren Campbell, deputies responded to a breaking and entering report on June 13 at a home on Big Forest Drive in Statesville. The victim reported several items had been stolen, including a checkbook. After contacting the bank, the victim discovered two unauthorized checks had been cashed.

The case was assigned to Detective S. Zalepka of the Criminal Investigation Division, who conducted interviews, reviewed bank records and gathered evidence that identified the suspects as 27-year-old Charles James Lyons of Statesville and 29-year-old Kyle William Palen of Cleveland.

Investigators charged Lyons with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and entering, felony obtaining property by false pretenses, and felony forgery of an instrument. Authorities said Lyons was already incarcerated in the Iredell County Detention Center on unrelated charges when the warrants were served.

Palen was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretenses and felony forgery of an instrument for his alleged involvement in cashing the stolen checks.

Both Lyons and Palen are being held under no bond because they had already received bond on unrelated cases.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active, and additional charges could be forthcoming.