U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrest Fugitive Wanted on Drug Crimes;

Other for Alleged Sexual Solicitation of Minor

Pensacola, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested two wanted men in the past 24 hours, one a convicted felon wanted to face drug charges in Pensacola; the other a man who faces charges for child pornography and traveling to meet a young boy to purportedly engage in sexual activity. Robert Lee Hawthorne Jr., 28, was being sought by the Marshals Task Force who spent most of today following leads throughout Pensacola. They finally caught up with fugitive Hawthorne at about 2 o’clock this afternoon where they tracked him to a home on the 2300 Block of Jordan Street. Marshals and Task Force Officers from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office and arrested him without incident. Hawthorne is wanted by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office for Failure to Appear on Cocaine Possession charges. Hawthorne has an extensive criminal past that includes violent crimes and violence toward law enforcement. Hawthorne is being held in the Escambia County Jail.

Yesterday evening, U.S. Marshals and Task Force members from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 79 year-old Norman Rushton in a Hotel in Crestview, Fla. Rushton is wanted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on a revoked bond warrant for Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation, as well as Traveling to Meet a Minor for Sexual Activity. The Marshals Pensacola Task Force was asked to help the Marshals in Panama City last week; following leads that led them to Costa Rica and finally found him back in the Panhandle yesterday. Rushton was arrested without incident and brought to the Okaloosa County Jail where he remains until he is brought back to Bay County.