A local man allegedly caught trying to cash a stolen check Wednesday told Hot Springs police he was offered money to cash the check by the man who stole it.
Chandler Ray Bowen, 21, who lists a Brad Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 1 p.m. at Regions Bank, 1555 Malvern Ave., and charged with a felony count of second-degree forgery, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Bowen, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on a $3,500 bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, HSPD Officer Christopher McGlone responded to Regions regarding a forgery and found Bowen standing at the counter attempting to cash a $700 check.
A Regions teller, 29, stated Bowen had approached the counter with the check which belonged to a local home repair business. She contacted the account owner and operator, 48, who stated his checks had been stolen by his nephew, 30, and provided his name.
Bowen was taken into custody and while being taken to the jail reportedly stated he "was only supposed to cash the check, and he'd get $100."
After being read his rights, Bowen reportedly admitted to detectives he had attempted to cash the $700 check, but stated a man had told him he would pay him $100 to cash it and the name he gave was the name of the nephew identified by the account owner.