A Carson City man who reported he was robbed of his rent money at gunpoint, revealed he was lying after police discovered he had a warrant for being AWOL from the Army, a police report indicates.
Steven Heroux, 37, who lists his occupation as a machinist, was booked into the Carson City Jail on the federal felony warrant for suspicion of military desertion.
According to the arrest report, Heroux called police and told them he had purchased a $640 money order from Wal-Mart about 4 p.m. and was walking home when he was approached by two men who pointed a gun at him and demanded his wallet. The report states Heroux claimed he gave his wallet to one of the men and punched the other, then he walked to his Como Street apartment and called police. While investigating the alleged robbery, police discovered the warrant and arrested Heroux.
"It was later learned that Steven was never robbed and had made up the story because he did not have money for rent at this time," Deputy Morgan Tucker wrote in his report.
According to the federal warrant, Spec. Heroux, a combat engineer was last seen at his duty station at Fort Bliss, Texas on Oct. 2, 2006. His term of enlistment would have expired on July 7 of this year.
Heroux is being held without bail and is expected to be extradited to Texas to face the federal charges.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.