Jonathan Shorman

News-Leader

A Florida company says losing House candidate Michael Hope and wife, Jonica, wrote a bad check for more than $3,000 to cover campaign expenses. His campaign committee has also failed to file a required finance report.

Hope came in third during the August Republican primary to represent Nixa in the Missouri House. Cherie Snell with Gravis Marketing in Winter Springs, Fla., said the check was dated August 6, 2014, the day after the election, and was for $3,010 from U.S. Bank.

The check was to cover direct mail, robo calls and other campaign-related expenses, Snell said.

Snell said U.S. Bank told the company they were unable to locate the account. The Hopes have not replied to a certified letter, emails and phone calls, she said.

Jonica Hope, who was active in her husband's campaign, was charged in June with passing a bad check last year for $103.29 at Mattress Outlet in Springfield. Hope was also charged with felony stealing in July stemming from her alleged use of a company credit card while she worked for Journal Broadcast Group.

Snell's description of the bounced check matches other bad check accusations leveled against the Hopes.

Campaign committees are required to file finance reports 30 days after elections. For the Aug. 5 primary, reports were due Sept. 4. The report would list campaign donations and expenditures since late July, including the check to Gravis Marketing.

The Hope campaign uses electronic filing, meaning reports are posted online instantaneously once they are sent in. However, as of this afternoon no report had been posted.

The phone number listed for Michael Hope on his Missouri Ethics Commission filings was disconnected.