A local man faces numerous theft charges after he allegedly used a closed bank account to make purchases and deposit money into a new account.

According to an Iowa City police complaint, Vincent Hewitt, 47, address unknown, was charged after allegedly opening a checking account at Hills Bank and Trust and writing a $4,000 check from his University of Iowa Community Credit Union account, depositing the money into his Hills account on Oct. 12, 2011.

The complaint said both checks were returned, and his UI account was closed on Oct. 13 after the already negative balance increased rapidly. Hewitt withdrew $3,560 from the Hills account before transactions could be stopped, according to the complaint.

Hewitt also allegedly purchased $561.22 worth of groceries from Hy-Vee, 1720 Waterfront Drive, on Nov. 5, 2011. He paid for the groceries with a check from the same closed UI account. Hy-Vee sent a letter requesting payment to Hewitt’s last known address, according to the complaint. The letter was returned, and no forwarding address was provided, according to the complaint.

Hewitt is charged with second-degree theft, a Class-D felony, and third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor.

— by Matt Starns