Hawthorne, Tindell cases scheduled on criminal docket

Published 3:09 am Thursday, August 26, 2010

Two high-profile cases are on the circuit criminal court schedule next month.

According to the docket released by the circuit clerk’s office, former W.S. Neal High School teacher Larry Tindell and current Escambia County Board of Education member Richard Hawthorne will appear in court Monday, Sept. 13.

Tindell was charged in February 2009 with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and possession of child pornography. He was arrested after an undercover investigation in which he allegedly gave pills to a young man. He was later charged with child pornography after a search at his home.

Tindell was a special education teacher at W.S. Neal High School. He retired shortly after his arrest.

Hawthorne was charged with two counts of custodial sexual misconduct in relation to his job as a transportation officer with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.

Hawthorne has remained a member of the board of education since his arrest.