CORDOVA — A man is facing more than a dozen felony and misdemeanor charges related to the theft of municipal water — months after his alleged co-conspirator.
Eric John Clark, 48, is accused of stealing two water meters from the county and one from the city of Rockingham and reconnecting service to an address on Gattis Street after it had been disconnected in October of 2024.
Clark allegedly conspired with Curtis Daniel Hicks to steal the water.
Warrants for the arrests of Clark and Hicks were issued in early December. Hicks was arrested in late December, Clark was arrested April 30.
Clark is charged with one felony count each of conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretenses, as well as three misdemeanor counts each of reconnecting a utility, larceny, possession of stolen goods or property, and injury to personal property.
(Note: In the text for the conspiracy charge for Clark’s warrant, he is listed as the co-conspirator.)
Clark was also issued a criminal summons in February charging him with three rabies vaccination violations and three violations for allowing a dog to run at night.
In 2023, Clark was cited for one vaccination and leash law violation. However, records show he failed to appear in court in January and an order for arrest was issued.
Clark is being held in the Richmond County Jail on a combined $101,000 secured bond.
Court records show Hicks was convicted Jan. 17 on three counts each of reconnecting a utility and misdemeanor larceny. The other charges were dismissed.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Clark has a criminal history dating back to 1997 when he was convicted of first-degree burglary.
Other prior convictions include:
1999 - driving while impaired
2001 - felony breaking and entering
2005 - possessing stolen goods (two counts)
2008 - common law robbery
2018 - breaking and entering vehicles (two counts), felony larceny (two counts), misdemeanor larceny (three counts)
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
