A Belleville man could spend the rest of his life in prison if he is found guilty on two charges of writing and cashing fake payroll checks.

David E. Branch, 36, of 148 Carmell St., Belleville, was arraigned on two counts of uttering and publishing a false bank document and habitual offender fourth offense. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18 at 10:45 a.m. He is currently lodged in the county Jail after failing to post a $50,000 cash bond.

According to court documents, on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15 , 2007, Branch passed two payroll checks at NJ’s Grocery in Lake Leelanau. He was allegedly captured on film entering the store and passing the checks, made out for $343.95 and $183.56 respectively. The payroll checks are for non-existent businesses drawn from non-existent bank accounts.

Branch has three prior convictions for uttering and publishing: one on Nov. 27, 2006 in the 22nd Circuit Court of Washtenaw County; and two on July 5, 2006, in the Third Circuit Court of Detroit.

If he is convicted on either of the two uttering and publishing counts, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison. If the habitual offender clause is envoked, he faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.