A Washington State wood flooring contractor has four months to pay $12,500 in restitution or face up to a year in jail, according to a story from The News Tribune. Daniel Clarence Medlock, 38, failed to return down payments to customers, wrote bad checks and continued to work after his business license was revoked. Medlock recently pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and three counts of operating a business post-revocation.
A Washington State wood flooring contractor has four months to pay $12,500 in restitution or face up to a year in jail, according to a story from The News Tribune. Daniel Clarence Medlock, 38, failed to return down payments to customers, wrote bad checks and continued to work after his business license was revoked. Medlock recently pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and three counts of operating a business post-revocation.
According to The News Tribune, it all started in March 2009 when Medlock, who was self-employed and doing business as Cutting Edge Hardwood Floors, was charged with theft for pocketing a $5,600 down payment for hardwood floors that were never installed. An initial investigation found that Medlock had been a "suspended contractor" since February 2009. Then, in September 2009, Medlock's certificate to do business was revoked; he was forced to stop operating the business or face criminal action. He continued to offer bids and completed installation projects, collecting more than $1,600 in retail sales tax that went unreported to the Department of Revenue. If Medlock repays all of the money by March, prosecutors will recommend a four-month jail term, to be served on work release.
