By Kelly Foreman
A former Gates Hyundai dealership employee was arrested Monday for handing out a free car to his friend.
Romas Deaton Jr., 27, of Richmond, is charged with theft by unlawful taking of an automobile, a used Kia Spectra valued at about $12,000, said Richmond Police Sgt. Willard Reardon, public affairs officer for the department.
“The vehicle was taken from Gates Hyundai in Richmond sometime in late May,” an RPD press release stated. “Apparently ... Mr. Deaton Jr., who worked at Gates Hyundai, went to the business after hours and took the keys from the showroom.”
Deaton, who worked in the dealership’s clean-up shop, allegedly then gave his friend the keys to the vehicle and “told him to drive it,” Reardon said. Deaton continued working at Gates Hyundai after giving away the car, Reardon said.
In mid-June, Reardon said the dealership went to clean the car and discovered it was missing. Reardon did not have the name of the “friend” who was driving the stolen vehicle, but said the person is not being charged for driving the stolen vehicle “because they did not know it was stolen,” he said.
“Apparently he just told him it was a used car and didn’t tell him it was stolen,” Reardon said.
About a week ago, Deaton’s friend reportedly was stopped by Lexington Police for driving on a suspended license and police towed the car to Seventh Street in Lexington, Reardon said. Through communication between the Richmond and Lexington police departments, Reardon said officers connected the cases.
“They found out who the friend was and traced it back to this guy that worked there,” Reardon said.
Tuesday, Reardon said the car had been returned to the dealership and Deaton was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center for the theft. He since has been released from the jail on a $1,000 partially secured bond.
Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.
