An emaciated dog tries to drink water from a dish that is completely dry. The dog's condition led to the arrest of Lockeford resident Robert Lance Weaver on suspicion of animal cruelty, grand theft, elder abuse and contracting without a license. (Courtesy photograph)

Lockeford man facing fraud, animal cruelty charges

Lodi and state authorities arrested a 38-year-old Lockeford man, Robert Lance Weaver, Tuesday night on suspicion of bilking nine people of at least $60,000, after he allegedly failed to do landscaping work for which he was paid, according to Lodi police and the Contractors State License Board.

Robert Weaver

He had been previously arrested on suspicion of nine counts of felony animal cruelty after San Joaquin County Animal Control officers found 20 dead dogs and a dead steer on July 22 on Weaver's property in the 15000 block of Linn Road, south of Brandt Road between Tully and Clements roads.

Weaver was also serving five years probation for a July forgery conviction, according to Venus Stromberg of the Contractors State License Board.

Officers from both agencies waited at a residence on East Main Street in Lockeford for four hours beginning at 6 p.m. until Weaver returned home and was taken into custody, according to Lodi Police Detective Lee Patterson.

Weaver was booked at the Lodi jail, with bail set at $460,000. He was arrested on suspicion of nine counts of grand theft, two counts of elder abuse and nine counts of contracting without a license.

There are six victims from Lodi and one each from Galt, Stockton and Tracy, Stromberg said. Two of the victims are considered elderly, which resulted in Weaver being charged with elder abuse as well, Stromberg said. The victims told officers that Weaver accepted money for landscaping projects, including patio covers and screened sun rooms, but never returned to do the work, Stromberg and Patterson said. One customer gave him $30,000, and another gave him $11,000, Patterson said. That money is gone.

"It's like this guy has no conscience ... " Patterson said. "I'm afraid there's more people out there."

Animal Control officers, who responded to the report of dead animals, took the seven surviving dogs — six of them are Louisiana catahoula leopard dogs — to the Stockton animal shelter and provided veterinary care, said Ernest Molieri, the county's Animal Control manager. Animal Control is now trying to find homes for the dogs, Molieri said.

Catahoulas weigh 55 to 80 pounds, are more than 20 inches high and have a short coat that is black and tan, according to www.dogbreedinfo.com. They are independent, protective and territorial, according to the Web site.

Any other victims may contact the Contractors State License Board at (916) 255-4602 or by fax to (916) 255-1959. Victims who live in Lodi may also call Lodi police at 333-6727.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.