A Brewton man is behind bars after being arrested by Brewton Police on five felony counts of forgery
Charles David Kent, 22, was arrested following an investigation that spanned more than a month.
Brewton Police Sgt. Steven Ferguson said a victim had reported that several checks had been stolen and were being cashed on their account prompting the investigation.
“About a month and half ago we got the report on the stolen checks being cashed without the victim’s signature,” Ferguson said. “During our investigation we discovered the checks were being cashed at Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union.”
Ferguson said records were subpoenaed from the bank and evidence pointed to Kent.
“Once we determined our suspect we began looking for him,” Ferguson said. “We had looked for him in the places where he was known to be and found him right under our noses. He was an employee with the street department with the City of Brewton.”
Ferguson said other evidence involving stolen checks may also point to Kent.
“When we received the subpoenaed records from the banking institution we found other cases of forged checks from people that we don’t know,” Ferguson said. “That evidence may also be something that involves the suspect.”
Ferguson said the victim will be not be responsible for the funds stolen from their account through the use of the forged checks.
“A victim in a case like this won’t have to forfeit the money lost through the forged instruments,” Ferguson said. ”Banks typically have accounts insured against that kind of activity. When that happens, the bank then becomes the victim.”
Kent was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where he was booked on a $25,000 bond.