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Local Utility Pursues Charges For Alleged Water Theft
August 20, 2021
A local utility is pursuing charges against a Century man for allegedly stealing water.
David Allen Cormany, 55, was charged with petit theft of utility services second degree and criminal mischief.
He is accused of breaking the lock off his water meter to restore water service to his residence on South Crary Road.
Central Water Works told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office they disconnected Cormany’s water service for nonpayment on May 24. By late July, the meter showed water usage of about 8,000 gallons, according to an arrest report. The water usage totaled $65.69 and the damaged equipment was valued at $57.56.
According to the ECSO, Cormany was given a chance to pay the bill and costs, but missed the deadline, and Central Water Works pursued criminal charges.
Cormany was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $200 bond.
Comments
30 Responses to “Local Utility Pursues Charges For Alleged Water Theft”
For all the people on here defending this man and berating CWW, you know where he lives, it is listed in the report, why not go to his home, and offer to help him? Or better yet go to CWW and pay his bill. I am pretty sure you could do an auto draft to your account and have his bill paid automatically. It is my understanding there are a lot of people paying needy individuals water bill and they do anonymously. I am sure he would be more than happy to accept your help. As for placing a lean on the property, he may not own the property he may be renting. Water service is not a right but a purchased service that everyone must pay for. Theft is wrong and so is vandalism. And as for as water being a basic right no it is no. Yes, it is a need for survival and there are more ways than one to get water. Maybe he needs to dig himself a well or haul it up from the creek. Thing’s people did not so many years ago but to expect it to be given to you and delivered to your house for free is just simply absurd. Because nothing is free someone is paying the cost of processing and delivery and in the case of CWW it is the customers.
REGARDING:
“that’s what it’s all about though, money”
Money to pay the power bills to pump the water he stole.
Money to pay the people who make certain the water he stole isn’t contaminated.
Money to maintain the system he stole from.
Money to provide water to put out fires before people die.
Many might say, “Oh well, he didn’t steal all THAT much. Let him get away with it.” — and thereby encourage other thieves to steal as well and to steal other things.
If theft is a minor thing, you wonder why THOU SHALT NOT STEAL made the Top Ten list. Maybe it’s not as small a matter as some think.
For sure, if it is only money, give him YOURS.
Don’t force him to steal from others. for his personal convenience and pleasure.
David for fewer thieves, especially those named David
I don’t know the individual or his situation, but this is rediculous!!
This man was in two bad motorcycle accidents. He was messed up pretty bad. It put him out if work. Until the accidents, he worked hard every day. It’s a crying same that the utility company went to this extreme. It’s also a crying shame that the sheriff’s department wasted time and money on this. Bit that’s what it’s all about though, money. Way to go. Another criminal brought to justice. I just hope nobody cuts my catalytic converter off while I’m sleeping tonight.
Yep, what he did was wrong and illegal etc, etc, but as a society we shouldn’t leave people without water. We don’t want a “big brother is watching you” scenario but him not paying his bill and getting his water shut off is like a giant red flag that there is a problem going on at this address and something is wrong. Whether it is a mental or physical health or a bad financial hit this person is dealing with, leaving them without water when everyone has to have water too live isn’t a real solution. It only compounds the problem, whatever that problem is.
Now this individual still has their same financial situation plus the money they have tied up in bail plus what ever court cost they incur and they still have to have water to live. This isn’t like steeling cable tv. You need water to live. Especially in July and August.
Maybe we should make this type of offense into something that can only become a civil dispute case and that the continued use of water without paying the bill becomes a lien against the property if it can’t be handled some other way?
I feel bad for the guy. I mean maybe he was just desperate. Desperate people take desperate measures for their survival. Maybe he doesn’t know the right numbers of the people who help pay bills and stuff. Someone should send a social worker around to him or someone who can give him the contacts he needs. Just help the guy he isn’t being a hardened criminal but just a desperate guy who maybe needed help. He isn’t selling drugs or killing babies….we have enough of that going around.
A conversation I had with a member of CWWI many years ago:
“I don’t know why we have to pay for water; the Lord gave it to us.”
“Yes ma’am, but He didn’t pump it to your house.”
She could have gotten all she wanted from the creek or river…until bacterial infection or pollution sent her Home to be with Him. The water system also checks for pollutants and disinfects it as well as supply water for fire suppression.
@katy Myrick
Are you kidding me?
Nope not any more. And hopefully this will be the normal practice for those who choose to steal water and vandalize their equipment.
If you are behind on your bill with Central Water Works you get two months to make it right, as well as a disconnect notice in the mail before they cut your water off. The $65.69 is the water that used illegally used. Most likely he owed a lot more. With Central Waters Works being a Co-op, which means it is owned by the customers, when you steal from CWW you are stealing from your neighbors.
Cutting the lock off the meter is the same as breaking into a place of business. Personally I feel it is about time Water utilities started holding people accountable for destroying their/our property and stealing from the community. If this was an electric meter the power company would not hesitate to have him prosecuted.
Unlike electrical theft when you tamper with the water system you could jeopardize the safety, and or health of every person on the system.
William 2,
I can’t speak for the rest of the county, but there are quite a few people who live in the Central Water Works service area who have private water wells on their property and do not get water from Central Water Works. In fact, Central Water Works is required by Northwest Florida Water Management District to provide documentation each year that they do not encroach on the normal use or operation of private water wells within our water system area.
Could not pay restitution to the water company for 120 bucks..but had enough for a 200 buck bail out of jail.
Evidently he is not good in math
“city officials forgave a family for not paying back property taxes for years well in excess of thousands of dollars . And now the same city officials are charging him for theft of water services less than a 100 bucks”
Just to clarify a couple of things…it was COUNTY officials on the property tax deal, and CITY officials have nothing to do with Central Water Works. Nor does the county. Central Water Works is their own franchise.
@just me, those faith based organizations are taxed to the limits with people asking for help, there are more in need, than there are giving!!! Even before the pandemic those organizations were having to turn people away each month, because there wasn’t enough funds to help everyone.
I don’t know this man, I’ll leave the judgment up to the almighty!!! I will say that it’s a shame that people are forced to pay the county for water, we are not allowed to have a well in most places in the county that has county water lines, there are no options and if you try to hook up to a well, the county will fine you daily until you have a licensed plumber connect you to the county lines or one of the so called cooperatives.
Thief is a thief is a thief
He is probably being charged for the valve he cut. He should be charged for 4 services calls for employees for havingto make so many trips out their too. I would bet this was not his first time he did this.
If he lived in Century water could have been Free.
Whoa whoa whoa there!!! Just a couple months ago a story from this site … city officials forgave a family for not paying back property taxes for years well in excess of thousands of dollars . And now the same city officials are charging him for theft of water services less than a 100 bucks… guess he doesn’t fit the profile…
You people don’t know who you’re trying to defend.
Good for Central Water Works.
So You people think it’s ok to break and steal? If the man has financial problems then there are faith based organizations that would help. Nothing gives you the right to break and steal services. From what I read they even gave him a chance to make it right but he failed to do so.
@Bewildered…I agree with you as far as any type of job and he could have kept his water on. To those singing that “poor pitiful him” song…TOO BAD. It doesn’t take much for a water bill or any bill for that matter. Yes, I know times are hard but they are only as hard as one makes it for themselves. Stealing is stealing no matter what was stolen. As sad as this situation is I have no pity for a thief. I say make an example of him. No, I’m not sitting up on a high horse… I haven’t been able to work in over a year so don’t tell me I don’t know what hard times are…I’ve never been late on a bill nor had the urge to want to be a dadgum thief! Guess he was spending his money “elsewhere”?????
It’s not to late for those who defending him to chip in and pay hos bills. He knew it was wrong and got caught. If he broke in your house and stole the money to pay the water bill would you vall the law? Or if the charges showed up on your bill would it be okay? And if I read this correctly he was given the opportunity ro pay for the damages and water.
hopefully the jail still has running water
Be careful of how you give a reason RMD people don’t take to kindly to that. Everyone’s life is viewed the same saying what he could or should done but don’t know the history.
Everyone’s having a hard time during this pandemic……they should let him pay it off if it’s his first offense!
For about ,$123.00 he could have kept from going to jail. But rather pay $200.00 ,bail. And now court costs and fines perhaps.
I guess he showed them.
Maybe they could have let him make payments. This is a shame on the water company. He might have lost his job or have other problems.
They should be more concerned with who approved paying $57.56 for a lock.
Not knowing the individual and his circumstances I find this story sad. People stole utilities for as long as I can remember – you never know if it’s done out of desperation or simply to defraud the utility companies. If you are physically able to work, there is no reason why one would not be able to pay a $30 monthly water bill (you can work doing yard work for an hour or so) and have the money. But then there are cases that truly are sad- you cannot live without water – the most important utility .
“Petty” indeed. Come on Central Water Works.
Are you kidding me?