College student says pastor gave him fake scholarship

CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — A self-proclaimed pastor charged with writing bad checks is now accused of giving out a fake college scholarship.

University of West Georgia student Asion Brooks says he owes the school nearly $9,000 because checks from the pastor bounced.

“It’s not something a godly person would do,” Brooks said.

Brooks says DeJarius Thurman offered to help him pay for college after he lost financial aid.%

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The school says it continued to send Brooks notices that the checks were written on closed accounts.

Now, Brooks says he can't go back to school until he pays $8,950.

“I was excited to go back and all that, and then when I found out, it was like a real huge blow,” Brooks said

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Thurman has been in jail since last week after he was charged with writing bad check to a hotel. He is also suspected of doing the same at local car dealerships.

“I guess he’s been doing it for so long, or stuff like this for so long, it just comes easy to him I guess,” Brooks said.

West Georgia spokesman Gary Leftwich said the scholarship announcement and the checks looked just like any other church scholarship.

Brooks said he wants the school to know that this was not his fault.

Leftwich said West Georgia would love to have him back once they straighten everything out.

Cox Media Group