Woman facing charges for alleged squatting near The Villages

Arrest Made for Theft of Appliances in The Villages Area

A woman was arrested at a residence near The Villages after homeowners reported that she was staying there without permission. According to police, she had sold a washer and dryer located in the home.

Candice Mechelle McKee, 40, faces charges of grand larceny and trafficking in stolen goods. A neighbor revealed that she had sold a washer and dryer set for $150, while another witness confirmed the appliances were originally stored at the residence. The homeowner, Dennis Lombardi, stated that the appliances were attached to the home and thus were his property, as outlined in the arrest affidavit by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

Lombardi also mentioned that McKee had been squatting in the house, ignoring requests to leave. This single-family home, situated in Summerfield, is near a large community for seniors in central Florida.

It seems Lombardi had visited the property several months prior, noticing McKee’s presence then. Interestingly, Lombardi’s nephew had been paying rent for the house, but he had invited McKee to stay without permission.

Even after being evicted in December, she didn’t leave as instructed, receiving a notice to vacate by March 31.

A neighbor had alerted Lombardi after purchasing a Frigidaire washer and dryer set from McKee. The buyer later realized the set didn’t belong to her after it malfunctioned, and she tried unsuccessfully to return it to McKee and get her money back.

While McKee claimed to have bought the appliances after being released from prison, investigators found inconsistencies in her statements regarding the purchase and she could not provide any proof of ownership.