SAN DIEGO -- A woman accused of writing bad checks to her credit companies in excess of what she owed, then pocketing the illegally obtained refund, pleaded not guilty Monday to grand theft and other charges.

Maria Metcalf, 54, was ordered held on $300,000 bail.

Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn told Judge Peter Gallagher that the Bonita resident wrote 39 checks on a bank account she opened with $100.

The defendant would write checks to credit companies for a sum far greater than was owed and would get cash back, Winn said.

The defendant wrote six checks to American Express for $600,000, and used money she got back to buy $50,000 worth of cash cards from Home Depot, the prosecutor said.

In addition to the cars and jewelry, $30,000 in cash was found in the defendant's bedroom, Winn told the judge.

Metcalf, who is from the Philippines, wrote a $990,000 check to her mortgage company and she and her fiance were three months behind in their mortgage payments, the prosecutor said.

Metcalf faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted of six counts each of grand theft and writing a check knowing there was insufficient funds in the bank.

Gallagher set a readiness conference for July 12 and a preliminary hearing for the next day.