Ex-employee at Waco home improvement company pleads guilty to stealing $60K in materials

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A former employee of a Waco home improvement company pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing $60,000 worth of flooring materials last year.

Melvin Maclin, 40, who worked at DesignCo., 5506 Franklin Ave., is seeking deferred probation after pleading guilty to theft of more than $30,000 but less than $150,000, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The McLennan County District Attorney’s Office recommended that Maclin be placed on felony deferred probation for 10 years and ordered to make $60,000 in restitution to the company during his time on probation.

Maclin was arrested last year on a second-degree felony charge of theft of more than $150,000 after an investigation by company officials showed Maclin and an alleged accomplice stole 118,450 square feet of flooring materials valued at $207,288 from January 2024 to August 2024.

Under the terms of Maclin’s plea bargain, prosecutors reduced the charge to a third degree and significantly cut the value of the merchandise Maclin and Edgar Alberto Delcid Bermudez reportedly stole from more than $200,000 to $60,000.

Prosecutor Ralph Strother told 54th State District Judge Susan Kelly Wednesday that prosecutors pursued the charge they thought they could prove against Maclin. Strother also said the DA’s office dismissed the theft charge against Bermudez last month.

Kelly ordered a background investigation on Maclin by probation officers and set sentencing for Oct. 15.

Maclin’s attorney, J.R. Vicha, deferred comment on the case until Maclin is sentenced.

The judge questioned Maclin after his guilty plea about how he intends to pay the $60,000 in restitution to DesignCo. He said he just started a new job as a cafeteria cook at Baylor University and has saved $1,300.

“This is $60,000,” the judge said.

“I know it,” Maclin said. “I have to take care of my family and I just picked up another job.”

“You’ve got to come up with a plan to get the $60,000,” Kelly said. “Just look at it like you are buying a $60,000 house over the next 10 years.”

According to arrest records, company officials told Waco police that Maclin pretended to have documentation for pallets of flooring “for the same customer usually on a Friday or Saturday when no managers were working, but no money would change hands.”

An arrest affidavit alleges Maclin would load a trailer with pallets of flooring and Bermudez would drive it to Dallas, “where it was believed to be sold by him.”

In deferred probation cases, a defendant can escape a felony conviction if he completes the terms and conditions of probation, including making full restitution.

DesignCo. officials did not return a phone call from KWTX on Wednesday.

link