FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mon., Jan. 6, 2020
CONTACT:
Breanna Bang, Public Information Liaison
AZ ROC December 2019 Unlicensed Adjudication Highlights
PHOENIX, Ariz., (Jan. 6, 2020) – Its ‘case closed’ on six Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) unlicensed investigations after the cases were successfully adjudicated in Benson, Phoenix, Fountain Hills, Surprise, San Tan Valley, and Bullhead City local courts last month.
Benson
On Tues., Dec. 24, 2019, James Krepps, 56 of Benson, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Benson Justice Court.
The charge stems from an AZ ROC investigation that found Krepps, DBA Krepps Solutions Handyman Services, represented himself as a licensed contractor and contracted to replace rotted wood, paint, and install gutters at a Benson home. Krepps was paid $2,900 for the project but he walked off the job after being confronted by the homeowner about his poor work.
The court ordered Krepps to pay $2,900 in restitution to the homeowner and issued a $1,885 fine.
Photo source: Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.
Phoenix
On Thurs., Dec. 19, 2019, Tarek Esber, 61 of Phoenix, was found guilty on two counts of Contracting Without a License, Class 1 Misdemeanors, and one count of Advertising Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Mesa Municipal Court.
The charges stem from an AZ ROC investigation that found a Mesa homeowner, who saw Esber’s advertisement on the referral website Angie’s List, paid Esber, DBA Dr Do Property Maintenance LLC, $2,700 for a bathroom remodeling job. The homeowner subsequently paid him $3,512 to remodel the kitchen, for a total contract of $6,212.
The homeowner was not happy with the quality of work that was performed and Esber promised to return to address the issues but never did. The homeowner ended up paying an additional $1,327 to hire a plumber, this time licensed, to repair Esber’s work.
Esber has never been licensed in Arizona nor has he applied for a license.
A sentencing hearing is set for February 10, 2020.
Fountain Hills
On Wed., Dec. 18, 2019, Gregory Fisher, 63 of Fountain Hills, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Fountain Hills Municipal Court.
The charge stems from an AZ ROC investigation that found Fisher, DBA All Trades in One LLC, contracted to design and build a built-in bookcase with recessed lighting at a Fountain Hills home. The homeowner paid Fisher $1,800 of the $4,265 contract and he only installed the lighting. He never returned to complete the job.
Fisher was ordered to pay $1,920 in fines and fees and $1,800 in restitution to the homeowner.
Surprise
On Tues., Dec. 17, 2019, Michael Jelinek, 58 of Peoria, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Surprise Municipal Court.
Jelinek contracted to make repairs on a Surprise home that suffered water damage after a plumbing leak and to remodel a guest house on the property where the homeowner would live during the repairs to the main house. He was paid $25,000 for the project but the work was slow and the homeowner realized Jelinek did not know what he was doing.
The court ordered Jelinek to pay $2,015 in fines and fees and sentenced him to 24 months of unsupervised probation. A restitution hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2020.
San Tan Valley
On Thurs., Dec. 12, 2019, Paul Owens, 38 of Queen Creek, pleaded guilty to Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Pioneer Justice Court.
Owens, DBA Green Planet Landscaping, was paid $18,300 for a new pool build and hardscaping at a San Tan Valley home. Owens started the job but abandoned it before it was complete. After the homeowner could not reach him by phone and realized the address they were given was false, the homeowner filed a complaint with AZ ROC.
The court fined Owens $1,050 and sentenced him to 36 months of unsupervised probation. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2020.
Bullhead City
On Tues., Dec. 10, 2019, Jerry Meade, 59 of Bullhead City, pleaded guilty to Attempted Contracting Without a License, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, in the Bullhead City Municipal Court.
Meade, DBA Premier Screens AZ Inc, was paid $2,100 by a Bullhead City homeowner install window and door coverings. Meade was referred to the homeowner by a friend and the homeowner was under the impression he was licensed. After seeing a lack of quality in the work, including mismeasurements, the homeowner filed a complaint with AZ ROC.
Meade was sentenced to 36 months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to the homeowner in addition to the $600 he already returned prior to the complaint being filed. Mead was also sentenced to 30 days in jail, but that part of the sentencing was suspended on the condition of no further offenses.
General Information
AZ ROC frequently receives complaints where an unlicensed entity’s work begins as small projects and increases in price and complexity to a point where they are unable or unwilling to complete or correct the work. In these cases, the homeowner is often out of luck. AZ ROC reminds property owners to ask contractors of their license status and to check the license using the contractor search at www.roc.az.gov or giving the Agency a call at 1-877-692-9762.
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