Man Arrested For Panhandling to Pay His Potomac Edison Bill

Well, you know what they say, necessity is the mother of invention, and one creative individual has come up with a new (if illegal) way to pay his outrageous Potomac Edison electric bill.

According to this article in the Herald-Mail: 

Charles Ashby Atkins, 78, of South Raleigh Street was arraigned Friday night by Magistrate Robert L. Lowe II on single misdemeanor counts of fraudulent schemes, obstructing, pedestrian on the interstate and failure to obey a traffic-control device, the court records said.

Atkins was spotted near the intersection of Apple Harvest Drive and exit 12 of Interstate 81 Friday evening holding a cardboard sign that read: “Can u help a vet, please thank u,” Trooper B.D. French said in a complaint filed against the defendant.

Atkins, who was found with $850 in cash and five unopened packs of cigarettes, said he was given the money and cigarettes by people while he sat near the intersection over the course of a few days, French said in the complaint.

French said Atkins told him he was “just attempting to get money from ‘people with sympathy’ to help him pay his utility bills,” when the trooper questioned him about why he was leading people to believe he was homeless by panhandling, the records said.

When asked why he did not obey multiple orders to stay away from the interstate, French said Atkins replied that he had “the most success there,” records said.

On July 18, Atkins, when found at the intersection panhandling, told French he was trying to get money for his camp, “nearby in town,” the records said.

On July 31, the defendant said he needed money to pay his electric bill before service was disconnected, records said.

When French asked him why he previously said the money was for food for his camp if he was not homeless, the defendant said he resided in an apartment in town, records said.

Atkins wouldn’t elaborate at that time when he was asked again why he previously stated he was homeless, records said.

So, how many copycat crimes will this cause?  And would it be a crime if you stood on a street corner with a bucket and a sign "Help Me Pay My Inaccurate and Outrageous Potomac Edison Electric Bill!"?  Probably not.  And it would probably be even more lucrative.  You can't mention the words "Potomac Edison" out in public around here without having bystanders chime into the conversation.  While out having coffee with a friend yesterday morning, those words were said and next thing you know we're in conversation with a gentleman who was simply standing nearby fixing his coffee.  Who hasn't gotten an outrageous bill or knows someone who has?  Would you feel sorry for someone stuck with an outrageous, inaccurate bill who was having their service shut off?  Would you toss in a few bucks?

Thanks, Potomac Edison!  Dishonest panhandlers!  Just one more service you provide!