Notting Hills Maintenance Man Faces Charges

Two Florida men who allegedly changed the locks on a vacant Marietta apartment unit and lived there rent-free were arrested last week.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a maintenance man at the Notting Hills Apartments in connection with the alleged incident.

Howard Luellen II of Fairburn, who is on the maintenance staff at the apartment complex, allegedly asked the community manager if he could have the power turned on April 5.

"The accused told (the apartment manager) he was going to be doing repairs to the apartment," a Marietta police officer wrote in the warrant.

But Joe Johnson and John Lenford Willis, both of Jacksonville, Fla., allegedly used the electricity to charge a cell phone, run lights and power up a laptop computer while they lived there rent-free, records show. Willis told authorities that Luellen was his cousin. Luellen denied that. 

"The complex staff could not open the door with their master key or the key that went to the door of the apartment," according to the warrant. "The accused was not paying rent, and did not intend to."

The suspects got on the police department's radar when Willis was arrested at 2:36 a.m. Thursday on a marijuana possession charge, records show.

"Joe Johnson was with the accused in the car at the time of the arrest," according to Willis' warrant. "The accused and Joe Johnson told (the) officer that they were staying at 750 Franklin Road together. Joe Johnson stated that he got the key to the apartment from the accused."

Johnson, Luellen and Willis each face a charge of burglary in the first degree. Johnson faces additional charges, including theft of services and marijuana possession. Luellen is wanted on charges of theft of services and obstruction. 

Johnson allegedly "had less than one ounce of marijuana in a shoe box with his paper work, video cameras, and CDs he is promoting," according to his warrant.

He was released Saturday on a $20,000 bond. Willis was released on a $21,000 bond.