HAMLET — A Hamlet man was arrested for illegally reconnecting his electrical service.
According to court records, Joseph Neil Whittle, 46, took and carried away electricity “unlawfully diverted by bypassing the electric meter and reconnecting service without authorization” from Duke Energy.
The offense occurred Feb. 3, and an arrest warrant was issued by the Hamlet Police Department on Feb. 6. Whittle was charged with one misdemeanor count of reconnecting a utility and one felony count of habitual larceny. He was arrested Feb. 8 and booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $15,000 secured bond. Whittle is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 19.
Whittle filed an affidavit of indigency Feb. 9 and was appointed an attorney the same day. He is currently serving an 18-month suspended sentence following a November 2025 conviction for injury to property to obtain nonferrous metals and possession of stolen goods.