Barrow County Man Accused of Stealing from 90-year-old Watkinsville Veteran

Watkinsville police with the assistance of the Barrow County Sheriff's Office on Monday arrested a Statham man who allegedly bilked $28,000 out of a 90-year-old military veteran from Watkinsville in less than one year under the guise of providing landscaping services.

Police Chief Lee O'Dillon says the Western Judicial Circuit's District Attorney's Office helped with the investigation, which was launched in early April after the victim's family members examined his bank account records. The victim had written 38 checks to Paul Kevin Harris, ranging in amounts of $25-$1,200 each, he explained.

The lawn work was never performed, O'Dillon said, but Harris kept returning to the elderly man demanding more money.

The victim told police that he was afraid not to give Harris more money because Harris is over six feet tall and weighs more than 250 pounds, according to a news release.  He also said that he was embarrassed about the situation and did not want anyone else to know.

Harris was booked Monday evening into the Oconee County Jail on charges of exploitation of the elderly and felony theft by taking.  He was released Tuesday after posting a $10,000 bond, O'Dillon said.

Harris appears on the Barrow County Sex Offender Registry for a 1992 conviction of aggravated child molestation, according to records.

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