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Sheriff: Man Arrested After Hiding In Ex-Girlfriend's Attic

PLANADA, Calif. (CBS13) --  A man has been arrested on stalking charges after he was found hiding in his ex-girlfriend's attic, according to authorities.

Miguel Lua, 27, who had been served a restraining order earlier in the month, was found by deputies hiding in his ex-girlfriend's attic after being called to the house for a possible domestic violence issue on December 12.

The victim, who lives in Merced County in the town of Planada, told deputies that she put her cell phone on the charger on December 11 when she went to bed, only to wake up to find the phone had vanished.  She also told authorities that she could not find her camera in the house and when she left that morning, she found it on her car seat in the garage, not where she left it.

Apparently, when the victim returned home from work on December 12 around 8 p.m., she noticed some brown debris on the carpet under the attic access in her home.  She also heard a noise, which is when she contacted the Sheriff's Department.

When deputies arrived, they opened the attic and called out to Lua to come out.  After several attempts, Deputy Larry Hudec climbed into the attic and found Lua hiding under some insulation.  Deputy Hudec also found a number of burnt candles, a coat and some shoes, indicating that Lua had been up there for some time.

Lua told deputies that he had been up in the attic since 6 p.m and did not plan on coming down until her had to go to work the following day at 5 a.m.  Lua also admitted to authorities that he had taken the victim's cell phone and camera to see if she had been calling any other men or taking their picture.

Lua was arrested on charges of stalking, burglary, violating a court order and obstructing a peace officer.   He is currently being held on $207,000 bail.

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