‘Just Act Dumb’: Century Man Charged With Trying To Cash Bad Check

June 11, 2019

An Escambia County man has been charged after allegedly trying to cash a counterfeit check while a texting an accomplice that told him to “just act dumb”.

Robert Derek Hawthorne, 20, was charged with felony attempted grand theft and uttering a false bank note. Hawthorne, who provided a Century address the time of his arrest, remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $8,500.

Pensacola Police said a Regions Bank teller was immediately suspicious of the $484 check Hawthorne tried to cash because the bank logo was faded and it looked like a photocopy. The teller determined the original check written by the account owner was for $360 to the First Baptist Church, and it had already cleared the bank.

According to the police report, Hawthorne was busy texting someone during his time at the bank. He told “Cooley” that the bank would be calling to verify the check. Cooley responded  “tell her you received it in the mail..from your online sales” and “just act dumb”, according to Pensacola Police.

Hawthorne told police his fiance had left the check for him to cash, but when questioned on the phone she was inconsistent and vague, the arrest report states.

Comments

16 Responses to “‘Just Act Dumb’: Century Man Charged With Trying To Cash Bad Check”

  1. David Huie Green on June 11th, 2019 9:09 pm

    REGARDING:
    “sin is sin in the eyes of the Lord.. no one is better than the other!!!”

    The Lord gave some sins the death penalty. Others He did not.

    This fellow’s sins are of the lesser kind. His punishment under Mosaic Law would be payment of restitution. (See Exodus 22:1-4 for an example
    Notice in it that punishment for stealing an ox is different from that for stealing a sheep; punishment for killing what he stole is different from punishment for stealing without killing. It is not all treated the same.

    Also, the Lord allows thieves to be sold into slavery if they can’t literally “pay their debt to society.” These unkind comments are nicer than what Old Testament law called for.

    Thieves bring shame on their families, not the unkind comments about their shameful actions. Yes, we are all sinners and can only be forgiven by repentance and trusting Christ as Lord and Savior or we will face far worse punishment.

    Still, we tend to make fun of sheer stupidity along with sorriness.
    Forgive us or condemn us as you wish.
    We can take it.

    David for better people

  2. chris on June 11th, 2019 3:30 pm

    “People have nothing better to do than be rude on here” actually I get alot accomplished and still find time to comment on posts here. Maybe get a legit job and then people will comment positive things. if you want to live a thug life then be ready to get dissed.

  3. Rasheed Jackson on June 11th, 2019 3:10 pm

    Dear Mr. Anonymous,
    If his family doesn’t want to read harsh words about him they should stay off the comment section.

  4. Charlie on June 11th, 2019 2:00 pm

    @Anonymous–Quit trying to put a blame or guilt on the commenters. He & he alone did the crime & is responsible for any comments stating the truth. He is the only one responsible for any possible hurt to family members. They didn’t do anything, so why should they feel hurt anyway. If any of my family did a crime (which has happened), it wouldn’t reflect on me, as I had nothing to do with the actions of a relative. People judge me by my actions, not those of a relative, so why should I feel hurt by true comment of others?

  5. Anonymous on June 11th, 2019 1:21 pm

    People have nothing better to do than be rude on here. Yes this person has made a bad decision and he will have to live with that decision for the rest of his life, but you need to think about the fact that he does have a family and the things you are saying he is not seeing, but his family is and words can be extremely hurtful. Imagine if you were his Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, etc… how would it make you feel? People have no sense of decency or humanity anymore… they just say what they feel no matter who they hurt in the process. Just remember people sin is sin in the eyes of the Lord.. no one is better than the other!!!

  6. Lord Have Mercy on June 11th, 2019 10:14 am

    Went to school with him, never been the best kid. He didn’t grow up like some, always getting in trouble at school and must had no one to get ahold of him at home. It’s a shame he’s became this person, but I feel awful for his family and little sister who has to deal with all of this.

  7. chris on June 11th, 2019 10:06 am

    and on top of it, he had a check made out to a church?

  8. Rasheed Jackson on June 11th, 2019 9:13 am

    Next time get a real job and you will get a real check. On-line sales, Yeah that just clears everything up doesn’t it. That is almost as good as they guy who was caught with meth stuffed in his socks, ” Dem’s my cousin’s socks” .

  9. ellis on June 11th, 2019 8:28 am

    Is this Century’s accountant? any bets on him trying to bond out with funny money?!!!

  10. Lifendason on June 11th, 2019 7:42 am

    Praying for this young man. My son is also 20 and I would hate to see this for him. It’s not too late to turn your life around Mr. Hawthorne! Jesus Christ can help you with that.

  11. retired on June 11th, 2019 7:12 am

    He should have gotten a check from Century.

  12. john on June 11th, 2019 6:24 am

    No Acting needed…..he has already arrived!

  13. David Huie Green on June 11th, 2019 6:07 am

    He doesn’t have to act.

  14. Good grief on June 11th, 2019 5:16 am

    dude needs a new fiance.

  15. Williwonka on June 11th, 2019 4:56 am

    Hawthorne was told to “act dumb,” bet that wasn’t too hard for him.

  16. Ha-ha on June 11th, 2019 12:59 am

    “Just act dumb”……..it wasn’t an act!! Too funny