MAN HELD IN COUNTERFEITING SCHEME.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - Equipment used to make counterfeit cash was found at the Canyon Country home of a woman whose son is accused of passing a phony $10 bill Sunday at the Mountasia Family Fun Center, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Shant David Printzian, 20, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit bill, making counterfeit money and possession of counterfeiting equipment after an employee at the amusement park ran a special marker across the bill and determined it was bogus, officials said.

Printzian was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station jail and remained in custody Monday in lieu of $70,000 bail.

Printzian was at Mountasia with friends when a cashier noticed red and blue coloring on the front of his bill, prompting suspicions.

When a test proved the bill phony, park officials detained Printzian until sheriff's deputies arrived.

It was not the first time employees at the fun center had found fake money. On three or four occasions within the past couple of years, cashiers have uncovered counterfeit bills, said Mike Fleming, a general partner with the company.

``It becomes almost a sixth sense for employees that handle cash on a regular basis,' Fleming said. ``It's just the feel . . . They can detect it immediately.

Once deputies arrived and questioned Printzian, his answers seemed contradictory, warranting further investigation that led to the home of Printzian's mother in the 20200 block of Canyon View Drive, officials said.

There, deputies found the counterfeiting equipment, which appeared to have been used for making about $500 in counterfeit $5 and $10 bills, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Detective Greg La Val. Authorities are searching for a man believed to be an accomplice.