VC man arrested for alleged $15,000 theft of water

Sheriff’s deputies Jan. 24 arrested a Valley Center man for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of water from the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) and pumping it to his property on Jason Court from a hydrant on Circle R Lane.

According to Lt. Mike McClain of the San Marcos Sheriff’s substation, Gregory Dendy was arrested at his residence and charged with theft of utility services and grand theft (Penal Code Section 498). He was booked into custody at the Vista jail on Jan. 24 and released on a bond as of Jan. 26.

“Obviously it was rare given the amount of time it was going on, although we have seen cases of water theft before,” said McClain. “I’m glad we were able to find out who was responsible and get him into custody and now he will get his day in court.”

According to Gary Arant, general manager of the water district, the Deer Springs Fire Protection District (DSFPD) was placing new blue dots on the fire hydrants. One hydrant located on Circle R Lane near Jason Court, south of Circle R Drive, had been overgrown with vegetation.

When cleared of the over-growth, the DSFPD personnel found a charged, two inch hose running over a block wall into the residence at 9901 Jason Court.

“Our personnel were contacted by the DSFPD. We went to site and photographed the illegal connection. At that point we contacted the San Diego Sheriff’s Dept.,” said Arant.

Lt. McClain confirmed that deputies arrived, viewed and documented the illegal connection from the hydrant to the private plumbing system on the Dendy property.

The deputy then contacted and  interviewed Dendy who, according to McClain, admitted to the theft, on camera.

The water district estimates the value of the water to be just over $15,000, “The theft value estimate was based upon the fact that Dendy had terminated his service from the three inch meter in July of 2009, or roughly two years ago.

“We used his average usage the two years prior to make the calculation of what he took since July, 2009. Mr. Dendy claims he has only stolen water for six months, though there is no well on his property to serve as an alternate supply to support that contention,” said Arant.

VCMWD plans to seek triple damages as provide by the Penal Code, or roughly $45,000.