Putnam ex-candidate faces charges
Investigation looks into whether truck theft was arranged
By MARCIA LANE
marcia.lane@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 10/28/08
A former Putnam County Commission candidate faces grand theft and insurance fraud charges following an incident involving a reported stolen truck, according to Major Keith Riddick of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
William Ernest Hughey, 33, was arrested Friday on a warrant after an investigation over several months.
Hughey, a businessman, has run unsuccessfully for the Putnam County Commission two times and was defeated in his latest attempt in the August primary election this year.
The criminal charges stem from the investigation into a complaint filed by Hughey on April 21 stating his 1998 Chevrolet truck was stolen from his Pamela Drive residence in San Mateo. At the time it was reported the truck was towed by two suspects, one known to Hughey, and a charging affidavit was filed against that suspect, Curtis Rogers.
Later, Sheriff's Detective James Edgar was contacted by a representative of Geico Insurance, the company that paid Hughey more than $5,000 on the theft claim. The company reported they received a telephone call from an individual who said Hughey arranged for the truck to be stolen, Riddick said.
Edgar spent the next three months following leads and talking with individuals, building a case against Hughey.
On Friday, Circuit Judge Terry LaRue signed a warrant charging Hughey with one count of grand theft and one count of insurance fraud and setting bond at $1,004. Edgar then located and arrested Hughey who promptly bonded out on the charges.
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