Winona Lake Man Faces Home Improvement Fraud Charges
October 29, 2019 at 11:25 p.m.
By Amanda [email protected]
Jason William Cole, 41, of 1776 E. CR 225S, Winona Lake, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 8:28 p.m. Monday.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Oct. 7 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, a woman told police on Sept. 16 that her elderly mother hired Cole, doing business as Cole’s Home Improvements, to do some work at her home. A contract and payment was made to Cole for $300 on June 11, with the work to begin on June 16, according to court papers.
However, Cole worked for three hours before leaving the job site, during which time he “trimmed a few trees and piled some leaves and also entered the garage and removed an antique David Bradly lawn tractor hood without permission and obtained an additional $110 and $75” for a total of $485. Court papers state Cole never returned nor returned the tractor hood.
Cole’s facing a level 6 felony charge of home improvement fraud and a Class A misdemeanor charge of theft in that case.
On June 21, a woman hired him to remove siding on her home and place new siding. The woman paid Cole $6,300 for the work, and told police Cole continued to give her excuses as to why he couldn’t finish the work. Cole’s facing a Class A misdemeanor charge for home improvement fraud in that case.
On July 22, Cole again allegedly jilted a homeowner out of money by promising home improvement work as Cole’s Home Improvements after being paid $1,883.20, court papers reflect.
Cole was to remove a concrete slab and replace the area with a larger concrete pad and vinyl fence. When Cole didn’t show up to work on July 22 as contracted, but later in early August, he removed the concrete pad and put them in the homeowner’s front yard, then graded an area and set up two 2x4s as a makeshift concrete frame, then never returned. Cole never refunded the money or finished the work, the probable cause affidavit states.
Cole’s facing one count of home improvement fraud, a Class A misdemeanor, in that case.
Cole’s bond is set at $7,000.
Jason William Cole, 41, of 1776 E. CR 225S, Winona Lake, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 8:28 p.m. Monday.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Oct. 7 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, a woman told police on Sept. 16 that her elderly mother hired Cole, doing business as Cole’s Home Improvements, to do some work at her home. A contract and payment was made to Cole for $300 on June 11, with the work to begin on June 16, according to court papers.
However, Cole worked for three hours before leaving the job site, during which time he “trimmed a few trees and piled some leaves and also entered the garage and removed an antique David Bradly lawn tractor hood without permission and obtained an additional $110 and $75” for a total of $485. Court papers state Cole never returned nor returned the tractor hood.
Cole’s facing a level 6 felony charge of home improvement fraud and a Class A misdemeanor charge of theft in that case.
On June 21, a woman hired him to remove siding on her home and place new siding. The woman paid Cole $6,300 for the work, and told police Cole continued to give her excuses as to why he couldn’t finish the work. Cole’s facing a Class A misdemeanor charge for home improvement fraud in that case.
On July 22, Cole again allegedly jilted a homeowner out of money by promising home improvement work as Cole’s Home Improvements after being paid $1,883.20, court papers reflect.
Cole was to remove a concrete slab and replace the area with a larger concrete pad and vinyl fence. When Cole didn’t show up to work on July 22 as contracted, but later in early August, he removed the concrete pad and put them in the homeowner’s front yard, then graded an area and set up two 2x4s as a makeshift concrete frame, then never returned. Cole never refunded the money or finished the work, the probable cause affidavit states.
Cole’s facing one count of home improvement fraud, a Class A misdemeanor, in that case.
Cole’s bond is set at $7,000.
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