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SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley man who prosecutors said tried to get revenge on another man by allowing him to live in a vacant house that wasn't his and collecting rent is in custody again.
Michael Roy Florence, 22, was charged in 2014 with communications fraud, a third-degree felony. According to charging documents, Florence found a vacant house, 3027 W. Leon Avenue (3560 South), that he was going to squat in.
But when he found out that another man he knew was looking for a place to stay, he devised a plan to rent the house to him for $500 per month, charging documents state.
Florence believed that the man "had taken his friend's girlfriend from him and wanted to get him back," according to police.
But "upon moving into the home with their belongings, they discovered Florence did not own the home nor had any authority to rent it," the charges state.
Brent Garlick with the West Valley Redevelopment Agency said the home was actually scheduled to be torn down for road expansion.
Florence was originally charged in March of 2014. After failing to attend a court hearing, an arrest warrant was issued in July, according to court records. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in November and then released, but after failing to attend another court hearing, another warrant was issued.
He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on that warrant late last week.
