UMATILLA, Florida—A Umatilla man who was already in the Lake County Jail on theft charges was served with another warrant accusing him of stealing $20,000 worth of copper materials from Duke Energy and then selling them to a recycling plant, according to an arrest affidavit.
Luchious Myron Clayton, 64, of Umatilla, was arrested April 2 at his home on a warrant accusing of him of burglary and grand theft—and the victim was his cousin. In that case, the victim, Clayton’s cousin, left for work on March 28, and got an alert from his home surveillance system. He began watching the live feed and observed Clayton in his home going through a dresser drawer and in his living room. He then exited the residence. The victim, who is also Clayton’s neighbor, returned home and found $130 missing, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office probable cause affidavit.
Clayton was picked up on the warrant on April 2 and was being held on $12,000 bond. While he was jail, LCSO served him with another warrant Monday, accusing him of the theft from Duke Energy.
Om March 21, LCSO responded to a Duke Energy substation on Mills Street in Umatilla and a Duke employee told a deputy that “Luchious” rides his bicycle near the substation and cut the 6-foot barbed wire and chain link fence, causing about $1,500 in damage to the fence. He said Clayton stole copper material and copper connection materials, valued at around $20,000.
The employee went to a recycling plant, located just a mile from the substation and spoke with the owner, he said, a black male by the name of “Luchious” had been selling him copper wire and provided LCSO with a copy of Clayton’s Florida Identification card. The owner and his wife said Clayton visits frequently and they have refused to buy non-insulated wire from him in the past.
Clayton was questioned at LCJ and told LCSO he committed the theft by himself; he is facing charges of burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property, in addition to the charges he is facing in his cousin’s case. Clayton is being held at the Lake County Jail on $27,000 bond.
