Drejka attorney's ex-wife breaks into Largo law firm, police say

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LARGO — An attorney for Clearwater parking lot shooter Michael Drejka is the victim of theft at the hands of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, according to police.

John Trevena confirmed Monday that Meredith Lynn Recio and Colton Lumpkin broke into his law firm in a plaza at 801 W Bay Drive in Largo. The pair stole and forged a check from the firm about 4:20 a.m. June 8, a Saturday, then cashed it at a Fifth Third Bank branch for $8,500, according to Largo police. Trevena also told police they stole a .44-caliber Magnum revolver loaded with hollow-point bullets.

Recio, 34, was married to Trevena, 57, until their divorce was finalized in March, according to court records. The longtime criminal defense attorney emphasized that no client information was compromised in the burglary and said he upgraded the firm's lock system. He said Recio and Lumpkin got into the plaza using another tenant's code, then pried open a side door to enter his office.

His ex-wife doesn't have a key and has had no relationship with the firm since November, when the pair separated.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Prominent Pinellas lawyer John Trevena mired in personal drama

"I take my clients' confidentiality very seriously and any breach of security is of concern to me," Trevena said. "We took measures to make sure it was as protected as possible."

Recio and Lumpkin were arrested Sunday afternoon on burglary and theft charges and booked into the Pinellas County jail. Lumpkin, 37, also faces charges of dealing in stolen property, fraudulent use of personal identification information and theft for an unrelated incident in which Pinellas Park police say he used fraudulent identification to return a safe at Home Depot that he didn't buy. Recio is listed on that arrest report as a co-defendant, although court records show she is not facing charges beyond burglary and theft.

Both were being held Monday afternoon in lieu of a $5,250 bail for Recio and a $19,250 bail for Lumpkin.

Trevena has represented Drejka, the parking lot shooter, since September, when he was charged with manslaughter in the death of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton. The case got national attention after Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri initially declined to arrest Drejka, saying his agency was precluded by Florida's stand your ground law.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: No arrest in fatal shooting during argument over handicap parking space

Drejka's defense team has been mired in controversy from the start. The Florida Bar opened an investigation into his first lawyer, Lysa Clifton, after she told reporters she approached Drejka in jail about representing him. She withdrew from the case in October and was later arrested on a DUI charge.

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In January, Trevena filed a court document spelling out salacious allegations against a woman who had been living with and working for him and Recio. The filing included a report that the woman, Deena Covell, forged a check from Trevena's law firm account and stole cash from clients. The Florida Bar opened an investigation into those allegations. Trevena later withdrew the court filing.

Then, in March, police arrested Trevena after Recio accused him of shoving and kicking her while he was picking up some of his possessions from her apartment. Recio asked prosecutors not to pursue the charge, according to court records. They dropped the case in April.

Drejka has three other lawyers: Bryant Camareno and Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy, both of Tampa; and William Flores of St. Petersburg. His case is set to go to trial Aug. 19.

Contact Kathryn Varn at kvarn@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8913. Follow @kathrynvarn.