published: Thursday, April 09, 2009

Man jailed for stealing satellite TV signal

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- An Avon Park man was arrested this week after the Highlands County Sheriff's Office discovered he was using someone else's DirecTV account.

Sergio Soto, 36, allegedly racked up nearly $8,000 in services from the satellite provider under a different man's account from August 2006 to August 2007.

"(Soto) utilizes a high-definition receiver that is activated on the account of another legitimate subscriber without his knowledge," said John Stock of the HCSO in the arrest report.

Stock said Soto had access to the victim's "highest level of programming services."

"This particular set of circumstances is basically identity theft," said HCSO Lt. Tim Lethbridge "Identity theft continues to be a threat across the country."

Soto was taken in on a warrant Tuesday, charged with one count of theft of more than $300 and two counts of fraud.

He was released later that day on $2,500 bond.