Florida Men Lived Rent-Free in East Cobb Apartment

Two Florida men allegedly changed the locks on a vacant East Cobb apartment unit, and lived there rent-free.

According to a Cobb County criminal warrant, Joe Johnson and John Lenford Willis also used the electricity in the Notting Hills Apartments unit to charge a cell phone, run lights and power up a laptop computer.

"The complex staff could not open the door with their master key or the key that went to the door of the apartment," according to the warrant. "The accused was not paying rent, and did not intend to."

It's not clear how long the suspects, who are both from Jacksonville, Fla., lived at Notting Hills. They got on the police department's radar when Willis was arrested at 2:36 a.m. Thursday on a marijuana possession charge, records show.

"Joe Johnson was with the accused in the car at the time of the arrest," according to Willis' warrant. "The accused and Joe Johnson told (the) officer that they were staying at 750 Franklin Road together. Joe Johnson stated that he got the key to the apartment from the accused."

Johnson and Willis each face a charge of burglary in the first degree. Johnson faces additional charges, including theft of services and marijuana possession.

Johnson allegedly "had less than one ounce of marijuana in a shoe box with his paper work, video cameras, and CDs he is promoting," according to the warrant.

Willis was released Saturday on a $21,000 bond. Johnson was released on a $20,000 bond.