[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 02/23/21]
EUSTIS, Florida — A DeLand man is accused of stealing a blow torch from his girlfriend’s dad just after having dinner at the man’s home in September, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Darnell Elliott Johnson, 31, came to the victim’s home in Royal Trails with his girlfriend to have dinner. After spending about two and a half hours there, the couple left and the victim went outside to his back porch to find his blow torch valued at more than $100 missing, according to the affidavit.
The victim reviewed his video surveillance, and it showed the victim walking into the house while Johnson and his girlfriend stayed outside. Just five minutes before they left, Johnson is seen taking the blow torch and concealing it while his girlfriend shields him from view of the backdoor where the victim just walked into the house. “[The girlfriend] clearly witnesses this act as she has her head turned toward Mr. Johnson,” a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy noted in the affidavit.
A warrant was issued for Johnson’s arrest for petit theft (two or more convictions) on Sept. 7, and he was picked up Thursday; his bond was revoked on prior charges of two counts each of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
