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Bay News 9: Builder arrested on grand theft charges |
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Friday, 17 November 2006 |
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Construction company president charged
Steven Bartlett, the president of Coral Bay Construction in Spring Hill, has been arrested on grand theft charges for allegedly spending money on himself that was supposed to be used to build houses. According to Hernando County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Black, investigators are looking into more than 140 complaints... Related Article: Coral Bay owner's arrest is expected
Construction company president charged
Monday, November 13, 2006
Steven Bartlett, the president of Coral Bay Construction in Spring Hill, has been arrested on grand theft charges for allegedly spending money on himself that was supposed to be used to build houses.
According to Hernando County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Black, investigators are looking into more than 140 complaints from customers who say Bartlett wasn't finishing jobs he had contracted with them for.
Bartlett, 39, is charged with first-degree grand theft, a felony. The state attorney's office alleges Bartlett entered into contracts to build homes or garages that were never finished.
"There is approximately $24 million worth of contracts that had been sold and these people have houses in varying stages of completion from nothing being done to up to a certificate of occupancy where there are liens on the house," said Assistant State Attorney Phil Hanson. "Most have suffered significant financial losses."
Hanson said investigators found cash that never made it into the corporate account. He also said they found money taken out of the corporate account and used to buy personal items such as motorcycles.
"The business account is not a piggy bank for the businessman to dip into whenever he gets low," Hanson said.
Hernando County detective Harold Varvel said he's investigated complaints against builders before, but never anything of this magnitude.
"One day I received 30 reports assigned to me in a single day," Varvel said. "It's unheard of."
Varval said he received complaints from alleged victims in Hernando, Citrus, Pasco and Sumter Counties. The losses exceed $1 million.
The case has been under investigation for about 6 1/2 months. Bartlett turned himself in Monday and was booked into the Hernando County Jail under $10,000 bond. He has also filed for bankruptcy.
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