Man accused of stealing generator, forging checks, deputies say

William Scott Howard, 53,​ was arrested Sept. 18

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – A Sumter County man is behind bars after he was accused of stealing a generator from a business following Hurricane Irma, officials with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said William Scott Howard, 53, was arrested Sept. 18 after being accused of stealing a portable generator used to power a business in Lake Panasoffkee.

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Howard reportedly approached the victim and offered information on the generator's location, deputies said.

Additionally, Howard was charged in an unrelated case for the theft of a checkbook from a home of a Lake Panasoffkee couple after deputies said he did work for the couple. Deputies said the couple discovered their checkbook was missing after Howard laid tile in their home.

The couple discovered when they called their bank that more $8,000 worth of checks were made out to Howard and were cashed in Lake and Sumter counties.

Howard is being held in the Sumter County Detention Center on $21,000 bond.​


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