(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte County woman is accused of removing a co-owner's name from the deed of a house they inherited.

Jean Foster-Pritz is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Forgery, Identity Deception, and Fraud.

According to court documents, Foster-Pritz removed her brother's name from the deed of a house they inherited in the 1300 block of North Wozniak Road.

Authorities said she forged her brother's signature on documents removing him as co-owner of the property they inherited from their parents several years ago. Foster-Pritz replaced his name on the deed with the name of another relative.

Foster-Pritz's brother lives out of state and told investigators that he has not been to La Porte County in more than 30 years.

Investigators were contacted when the relative unknowingly listed as the new co-owner began asking why she began receiving property tax bills on the property.

Foster-Pritz could face up to six years in prison if convicted on all three counts.