COURTLAND
Branchville resident Todd Newsome was arraigned on Friday morning in the Southampton County General District Court for 46 felony counts of forgery and uttering, allegedly forging a signature on 23 checks and cashing them from May through December 2015. His preliminary trail date has been set for March 23 at the Southampton County General District Court, where he will be represented by attorney Jack Randall of Randall-Page, P.C.

Southampton County Sheriff’s Detective Camden Cobb said a month-long investigation into Newsome began when the individual whose checks were being used became aware. Newsome was arrested on Wednesday and released on a $10,000 secured bond.

“We have specific dollar amount [of the checks Newsome cashed], but there are no charges related to the dollar amount because it was a two-person check,” Cobb said. “We won’t be releasing that amount. It’ll stay between the two individuals and will be resolved in civil court.”

Newsome’s only previous run-ins with the law were two driving infractions in 2010 and 2014, respectively.