RUSH COUNTY — The owner of a Rushville construction firm was arrested Monday on allegations he repeatedly failed to complete jobs he charged people for.
Warren L. Stephen, of Rushville, the owner of W. Stephen Affordable Construction, was taken into custody on a warrant for suspected theft and fraud, according to the Rush County Sheriff's Office.
"This investigation revealed several individuals fell victim of W. Stephen Affordable Construction. Mr. Stephen has received money to start many local jobs, but has failed to return to complete the contracted work," a news release from the Sheriff's Office states.
Investigators found Stephen repeatedly charged his clients for half of a job's cost upfront, but would only do "a minimal portion" of the job and then not return, and in some cases did not come to the job site at all, the Sheriff's Office alleged.
He then stopped communicating with the client and left them without money or with an unusable project site, the Sheriff's Office said.
Stephen was charged with six felony counts of theft and one misdemeanor count of home improvement fraud, online court records show.
An initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled for him.
Stephen declined to comment for this story.
-
A quiet Tuesday before higher chances for rain later this week
Our quiet weather conditions continue into Wednesday before an isolated rain chance Wednesday night. Higher chances of rain arrive later this week.
Mistrial declared in murder case of mother accused of daughter’s death
As of Tuesday afternoon, a mistrial has been declared for Toni McClure, the mother charged with murder in the death of her 5-year-old daughter, Kinsleigh Welty.
NCAA approves eligibility rules for Division I athletes
The NCAA approved a new eligibility model for Division I athletes that will allow five seasons of competition over a five-year period.
Neo-soul queen Erykah Badu, The Alchemist head to Indianapolis this fall
R&B and Neo-soul icon Erykah Badu and hip-hop producer The Alchemist are coming to Indianapolis this fall.
