Man charged after cashing $29,000 in payment for construction he failed to complete
A Coon Valley guy was arrested before this thirty day period after failing to get…
A Coon Valley guy was arrested before this thirty day period after failing to get started a construction undertaking for which he billed the target and cashed $29,000 in payment.
William Ross, 33, appeared Friday in La Crosse County Circuit Court on charges of theft by contractor (amplified penalty for elder person sufferer) and theft of moveable residence, both $10,000 to $100,000.
According to the legal complaint, on Aug. 10 officers ended up dispatched to an Onalaska tackle on a hassle with occasion call.
The victim said Ross in Oct 2021 gave her an estimate for a whole exterior reworking of her dwelling and other design assignments. The believed charge was $37,729. The target wrote Ross a look at in the quantity of $19,000 for resources and was informed Ross would possible start out the project late the subsequent thirty day period.
The sufferer wrote Ross a different check for $10,000 on Nov. 23, 2021. Equally checks have been cashed, the report claims.
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Ross did not start off get the job done by the approximated commence, and “promised new dates over and around once again.” Just about every time Ross gave excuses which include individual injury, surgical procedure, spouse and children illness, a drinking issue and a respiratory problem, for every the report.
Ross refused to share his contractor’s license amount with the victim, and would not demonstrate receipts for components procured for the project.
On behalf of the sufferer, two men and women submitted grievances with the Better Small business Bureau, Condition Attorney’s Place of work and Wisconsin Trade Commission.
The target stated they had experienced in-man or woman and cellphone discussions with Ross in excess of the past 12 months and in early August 2022 requested him to refund the comprehensive amount of money they paid out to him. For every the report, Ross mentioned he did not want to do so, citing large desire costs for a bank loan he would require to acquire out to fork out the victim back.
An officer was assigned to the theft investigation and given a research warrant for Ross’s financial institution account Aug. 18. They observed Ross experienced manufactured 193 separate $100 buys to an on the web gambling website. The investigator said they uncovered “no substantial purchases which could be for materials” for the victim’s home job.
An officer produced call with Ross on Sept. 1. Ross stated he supposed to give the target a comprehensive refund and experienced invested $15,000 to $18,000 on building resources. Ross told the officer he had not commenced the undertaking due to the fact he ordered the incorrect siding. Ross explained he needed to refund the victim in the upcoming 15 days.
Ross was placed below arrest and taken to La Crosse County Jail. He is scheduled to be formally booked and return to courtroom Oct. 4.
