Suspects arrested after cashing more than $50,000 in fictitious checks 
DATE/TIME: Saturday, July 1, 2017
INCIDENT: PC487 Grand Theft, PC470 Fraud, PC476 Pass Fictitious Checks
LOCATION: Numerous Wells Fargo Banks in Highland, Redlands, San Bernardino and Rialto
SUSPECT(S): Sarah Maria Brooks, 30 years old, resident of San Bernardino
Trenton Jacobs, 27 years old, resident of Moreno Valley
Charity Hope Hawthorne, 30 years old, resident of Highland
SUMMARY:
On Saturday, July 1, 2017, Sarah Brooks entered the Wells Fargo Bank at Greenspot and Church Street and attempted to cash a check for $7,000.00. The teller was immediately suspicious of Brooks and stalled her while calling for deputies. Before the check could be cashed, Brooks ended up fleeing in a dark blue Ford Expedition driven by suspect Trenton Jacobs. Brooks inadvertently left several personal items at the bank. Deputies continued the investigation and discovered the check victim had numerous fraudulent checks created from his account. More than $50,000.00 in fraudulent checks were cashed at the local banks by Brooks and other yet to be identified/arrested suspects.
On July 17th at about 4:00 a.m., deputies located the suspect vehicle at San Manuel Casino. The vehicle was stopped and suspect Trenton Jacobs and Charity Hope Hawthorne were arrested. In addition to the fraud, Jacobs had a loaded, sawed off shotgun in the vehicle. Jacobs is a convicted felon and is currently on AB109 PRCS for Pimping and Felon in Possession of Dangerous Weapons. As a part of Governor Jerry Brown’s Realignment Plan, or Assembly Bill 109, to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring the state to lower its prison population by 30,000; offenders with non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious convictions will serve reduced sentences in county jails and be placed on local supervision through county Probation.
Deputies continued with the investigation and located Sarah Brooks in the 1700 block of Pershing in San Bernardino where she was taken into custody. At the time of her arrest she was in possession of additional stolen and forged documents.
Deputies are searching for additional suspects. Anyone who has information on this case or involved persons is asked to contact Detective Mike Brandt or Sergeant Maggie Finneran at the Highland Police Department. Anonymous tips and information are welcome.
Refer: Detective Mike Brandt
Station: Highland Sheriff’s Station
Case #: 131702523
Phone No. 909-425-9793
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Highland Police Department
26985 Base Line St
Highland, CA 92346
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
