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In a recent incident near The Villages, authorities apprehended a woman after she allegedly occupied a house without permission and sold a washer and dryer that belonged to the property. This information comes from an arrest affidavit.
The woman in question, 40-year-old Candice Meshelle Mackey, is facing charges of grand theft and dealing in stolen property. Investigators reported that a neighbor purchased the washer-and-dryer set from Mackey for $150. A separate witness confirmed that these appliances were indeed part of the home’s original contents.
Denise Lombardi, the homeowner, informed the Marion County Sheriff’s Department that the appliances were included with the house and were her property. This detail is part of the official arrest affidavit.
Lombardi also accused Mackey of being a squatter who, despite repeated requests to vacate, continued residing in the residence. This single-family home is located in Summerfield, close to The Villages, a well-known residential area in Central Florida.
Candice Meshelle Mackey was taken into custody and charged with grand theft, as the stolen property was valued between $750 and $5,000, along with charges of dealing in stolen goods. She was booked at the Marion County Jail but was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
The owner told police she had gone to the home a couple of months ago and realized Mackey had been squatting there, according to the affidavit.
Lombardi’s nephew, identified as James, who was paying rent at the home, invited Mackey to stay with him without permission.
Despite being ordered from the house in December, she still had not left and was served a notice to vacate by March 31.
The Villages retirement community in Florida is one of the nation’s largest with over 100,000 residents. (Robert Sherman, Fox News)
A neighbor first alerted the homeowner after he bought a Frigidaire washer and dryer that Mackey was selling for $150.
The buyer later told law enforcement that his washer and dryer stopped working. So, when he noticed Mackey moving out, he bought what he thought was hers for $150. Once he found out the set did not belong to her, he tried to return it and get his money back without success, the report said.
The Villages encompass over 32 square miles in Central Florida, making it one of the nation’s largest retirement communities. (Fox News)
Mackey told deputies she had purchased the appliances after being released from jail, but investigators said she gave conflicting accounts of when she bought them and could not provide proof they were hers.
She was arrested on charges of grand theft with a property value of $750 to $5,000 and dealing in stolen property. She was booked in the Marion County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
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